Assessing effects of “source-sink” landscape on non-point source pollution based on cell units of a small agricultural catchment

Ascertaining the relationship between "source-sink" landscape and non-point source(NPS) pollution is crucial for reducing NPS pollution, however, it is not easy to realize this target on cell unit scale. To reveal the relationships between "sourcesink" landscape and NPS pollution based on cell units of a small catchment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region(TGRR), the runoff and nutrient yields were simulated first by rainfall events on a cell unit scale based on the Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Model(AnnAGNPS). Landscape structure and pattern were quantified with "sourcesink" landscape indicators based on cell units including landscape area indices and locationweighted landscape indices. The results showed that:the study case of small Wangjiagou catchment highlighted a good prediction capability of runoff and nutrient export by the AnnAGNPS model. Throughout the catchment, the spatial distribution trends of four location-weighted landscape indices were similar to the trends of simulated total nitrogen(TN) and total phosphorus(TP), which highlighted the importance of spatial arrangement of "source" and "sink" landscape types in a catchment when estimating pollutant loads. Results by Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the location-weighted landscape index provided a more comprehensive account of multiple factors, and can better reflect NPS-related nutrient loss than other landscape indices applied in single-factor analysis. This study provides new findings for applying the "source-sink" landscape indices based on cell units in small catchments to explain the effect of "source-sink" landscape on nutrient export based on cell unit, and helps improve the understanding of the correlation between "source-sink" landscape and NPS pollution.     

Development of a location-weighted landscape contrast index based on the minimum hydrological response unit

The changing patterns of watersheds in a landscape, driven by human activities, play an important role in non-point source pollution processes. This paper aims to improve the location-weighted landscape contrast index using remote sensing and GIS technology to account for the effects of scale and ecological processes. The hydrological response unit(HRU) with a single land use and soil type was used as the smallest unit. The relationship between the landscape index and typical ecological processes was established by describing the influence of the landscape pattern on non-point source pollution. To verify the research method, this paper used the Yanshi River basin as a study area. The results showed that the relative intensity of non-point source pollution in different regions of the watershed and the location-weighted landscape contrast index based on the minimum HRU can qualitatively reflect the risk of regional nutrient loss.     

Combining CLUE-S and SWAT models to forecast land use change and non-point source pollution impact at a watershed scale in Liaoning Province,China

Non-point source （NPS） pollution has become a major source of water pollution. A combination of models would provide the necessary direction and approaches designed to control NPS pollution through land use planning. In this study, NPS pollution load was simulated in urban planning, historic trends and ecological protection land use scenarios based on the Conversion of Land Use and its Effect at Small regional extent （CLUE-S） and Soil and Water Assessment Tool （SWAT） models applied to Hunhe-Taizi River Watershed, Liaoning Province, China. Total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP） were chosen as NPS pollution indices. The results of models validation showed that CLUE-S and SWAT models were suitable in the study area. NPS pollution mainly came from dry farmland, paddy, rural and urban areas. The spatial distribution of TN and TP exhibited the same trend in 57 sub-catchments. The TN and TP had the highest NPS pollution load in the western and central plains, which concentrated the urban area and farm land. The NPS pollution load would increase in the urban planning and historic trends scenarios, and would be even higher in the urban planning scenario. How- ever, the NPS pollution load decreased in the ecological protection scenario. The differences observed in the three scenarios indicated that land use had a degree of impact on NPS pollution, which showed that scientific and ecologically sound construction could effec- tively reduce the NPS pollution load in a watershed. This study provides a scientific method for conducting NPS pollution research at the watershed scale, a scientific basis for non-point source pollution control, and a reference for related policy making.     

基于GridMet模型的浙江省温湿指数空间分布及地形影响分析

温湿指数是气候舒适度评价模型之一,通过温度与湿度的组合反映人体与周围环境的热量交换,本文利用2003-2018年浙江省及其周边71个气象站点月平均气温、地面水汽压数据,以及MODIS水汽产品,基于GridMet模型模拟了浙江省各月温湿指数空间分布（100 m×100 m）,分析了浙江省温湿指数随地形因子（海拔、坡度、坡向）变化的特征;讨论了各地形因子对温湿指数空间分布的影响程度。结果表明：① 海拔、坡度、坡向3个地形因子中,1月温湿指数随坡向的变化最大,7月最小;② 同坡向上,坡度变化对1月温湿指数影响较大,而海拔变化则是对7月影响最大;③ 南坡1月温湿指数随海拔和坡度增加均略为增加,南坡其他月份及北坡各月均为随海拔和坡度增加温湿指数减小;④ 北坡相对于南坡而言,海拔和坡度对温湿指数的影响更为明显。浙江大部分山区由于地形影响,夏季较为“舒适”,适宜建立避暑消夏的旅游项目。     

典型地貌景观指数的多尺度效应分析 ——以山西省运城市为例

 景观指数作为定量描述景观特征的指数,具有明显的尺度效应。进行景观指数的尺度效应研究,对进一步理解格局与尺度之间的关系具有重要意义。本文以TM影像为基础,选择山西省运城市平原、丘陵、山地及综合地貌4种不同地貌类型,对7个常用景观指数进行了多尺度效应分析。结果表明:不同地形上斑块密度(PD)、景观形状指数(LSI)、结合度(COHESION)3个指数有明显的粒度效应,随粒度的增加呈现逐渐减少的变化趋势;最大斑块指数(LPI)、周长面积比分维数(PAFRAC)、景观聚集度(CONTAG)和Shannon多样性指数(SHDI)4个指数随粒度的增加几乎不发生变化。不同地貌的景观指数随幅度的变化规律比较复杂,景观形状指数(LSI)随幅度的增加呈现逐渐增加的趋势,其余6个指数在较小幅度范围内变化比较复杂,但随着幅度的增大有逐渐趋于平稳的趋势。针对研究区不同地貌类型,其景观指数在不同粒度和幅度下有较大区别,可以根据景观指数值的大小来区分地貌的复杂程度。     

Assessment of Rill Erosion Development during Erosive Storms at Angereb Watershed,Lake Tana Sub-basin in Ethiopia

Application of simple and locally based erosion assessment methods that fit to the local condition is necessary to improve the performance and efficiency of soil conservation practices. In this study, rill erosion formation and development was investigated on the topo-sequence of three catchments(300-500 m slope length); and on agricultural fields(6 m and 14 m slope lengths) with different crop-tillage surfaces during erosive storms.Rill density and rill erosion rates were measured using rill cross section survey and close range digital photogrammetry. Rill formation and development was commonly observed on conditions where there is wider terrace spacing, concave slope shapes and unstable stone terraces on steep slopes. At field plot level, rill development was controlled by the distribution and abrupt change in the soil surface roughness and extent of slope length. At catchment scale, however, rill formation and development was controlled by landscape structures, and concavity and convexity of the slope. Greater rill cross sections and many small local rills were associated to the rougher soil surfaces. For instance, relative comparison of crop tillage practices have showed that faba-beantillage management was more susceptible to seasonal rill erosion followed by Teff and wheat tillage surfaces under no cover condition. Surface roughness and landscape structures played a net decreasing effect on the parallel rill network development. This implies that spatial and temporal variability of the rill prone areas was strongly associated with the nature and initial size of surface micro-topography or tillage roughness. Thus, it is necessary to account land management practices, detail micro-topographic surfaces and landscape structures for improved prediction of rill prone areas under complex topographic conditions. Application of both direct rill cross section survey and close range digital photogrammetric techniques could enhance field erosion assessment for practical soil conservation improvement.     

Identifying key environmental factors influencing spatial variation of water quality in upper Shitoukoumen Reservoir Basin in Jilin Province, China

Based on the observed data in monitored drainage areas and GIS spatial analysis tools, watershed basic database of Shitoukoumen Reservoir Basin was built. The multivariate analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to analyze the spatial and temporal variations of water quality, identify the key environmental factors and their patterns influencing the spatial variation of water quality, and determine the main types and forms of the non-point source (NPS) pollutant export controlled by the key environmental factors. The results show that different patterns of environmental factors lead to great changes in water quality at spatial and seasonal scales. All selected environmental factors explain 64.5% and 68.2% of the spatial variation of water quality over dry season and rainy season, respectively, which shows clear seasonal difference. Over dry season, residential land is the most important environmental factor, which possesses 35.4% of the spatial variation, and drainage area is the second key environmental factor, which possesses 17.0% of spatial variation in the total variance. Over rainy season, slope length and drainage area are the key environmental factors, which possess 29.3% of the spatial variation together. Residential land influences nitrogen export by changing NH₄ ⁺-N and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) discharge over dry season, and drainage area controls phosphorus export by regulating dissolved phosphorus (DP) drainage over dry season and phosphorus associated particulate (PAP) loss over rainy season, respectively. Although slope length is an important environmental factor, it does not influence NPS pollutant export. It is interesting that soil organic matter, as a minor environmental factor, highly determines phosphorus and nitrogen export by enhancing the DP, PAP and PON loss.     

Spatial variation and soil nitrogen potential hotspots in a mixed land cover catchment on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Soil nitrogen(N) is critical to ecosystem services and environmental quality. Hotspots of soil N in areas with high soil moisture have been widely studied, however, their spatial distribution and their linkage with soil N variation have seldom been examined at a catchment scale in areas with low soil water content. We investigated the spatial variation of soil N and its hotspots in a mixed land cover catchment on the Chinese Loess Plateau and used multiple statistical methods to evaluate the effects of the critical environmental factors on soil N variation and potential hotspots. The results demonstrated that land cover, soil moisture, elevation, plan curvature and flow accumulation were the dominant factors affecting the spatial variation of soil nitrate(NN), while land cover and slope aspect were the most important factors impacting the spatial distribution of soil ammonium(AN) and total nitrogen(TN). In the studied catchment, the forestland, gully land and grassland were found to be the potential hotspots of soil NN, AN and TN accumulation, respectively. We concluded that land cover and slope aspect could be proxies to determine the potential hotspots of soil N at the catchment scale. Overall, land cover was the most important factor that resulted in the spatial variations of soil N. The findings may help us to better understand the environmental factors affecting soil N hotspots and their spatial variation at the catchment scale in terrestrial ecosystems.     

Assessment of tectonic control on the development of low mountains moderate relief in the Outer Carpathians(Southern Poland)

Inherited tectonic structures, ongoing tectonic deformation, and variations in relative rock uplift rates play an important role in conditioning the processes of relief development. Their influence among other factors, such as climate and lithology, can be quantified using landscape analysis, and geomorphometric indices, in particular. The usage of landscape analysis in recent years is increasing systematically due to the constant improvement of the digital elevation models and GIS software that significantly facilitate this approach. In this study, we aim to recognize the influence of tectonic structures and processes on relief development in the low mountains with moderate relief of the So?a River catchment in the Western Outer Carpathians. To this end, we calculated geomorphometric indices(river longitudinal profile, stream-length gradient index, minimum bulk erosion, relief ratio, circulatory ratio, elongation ratio, and hypsometric integral) for the So?a River and its 47 sub-catchments using a 25-m spatial resolution Digital Terrain Elevation Data Level 2. Additionally, we identified lineaments and knickpoints and correlated the computed results with local and regional fault networks, variations in lithology, and climate fluctuations. Obtained results indicate a significant impact of inherited tectonicstructures on the relief development of the So?a River catchment, i.e., directions of principal ridges and valleys follow the orientation of main folds and faults recorded in this area. Anomalously high values of minimum bulk erosion, river gradient, and streamlength gradient index allowed us to define two areas with higher relative uplift rates: 1) the So?a Gorge and 2) the Beskid ?ywiecki Mts. Polish Outer Carpathians are generally considered as an area of low strain rate and low seismic activity. However, the possibility of neotectonic processes should be considered in geohazard estimations. Observed bends in the direction of river valleys that do not correspond with changes in lithology could be related to active strikeslip faults. These are probably the reactivated basement structures, copied in the thin-skinned nappe cover, as a result of the accommodation of the Mur-?ilina Fault Zone resulting from the tectonic push of the Alcapa(Alpine-Carpathian-Pannonian) microplate against the European plate. Thus, the role of recent tectonic activity in relief development of the So?a River catchment even though appears to be subsidiary at the most, should not be excluded.     

Relationships between landslide types and topographic attributes in a loess catchment, China

Topographic attributes have been identified as the most important factor in controlling the initiation and distribution of shallow landslides triggered by rainfall.As a result,these landslides influence the evolution of local surface topography.In this research,an area of 2.6 km 2 loess catchment in the Huachi County was selected as the study area locating in the Chinese Loess Plateau.The landslides inventory and landslide types were mapped using global position system(GPS) and field mapping.The landslide inventory shows that these shallow landslides involve different movement types including slide,creep and fall.Meanwhile,main topographic attributes were generated based on a high resolution digital terrain model(5 m × 5 m),including aspect,slope shape,elevation,slope angle and contributing area.These maps were overlaid with the spatial distributions of total landslides and each type of landslides in a geographic information system(GIS),respectively,to assess their spatial frequency distributions and relative failure potentials related to these selected topographic attributes.The spatial analysis results revealed that there is a close relation between the topographic attributes of the postlandsliding local surface and the types of landslide movement.Meanwhile,the types of landslide movement have some obvious differences in local topographic attributes,which can influence the relative failure potential of different types of landslides.These results have practical significance to mitigate natural hazard and understandgeomorphologic process in thick loess area.     

基于SWAT模型和多源DEM数据的流域水系提取精度分析

流域水系是研究水文水资源、地貌演化和生态环境及水土治理等的基础数据,高精度的水系提取对流域研究十分重要。本文以空间分辨率均为30 m的 AW3D30 DSM、SRTM1 DEM和ASTER GDEM2数字高程模型作为基本的地形数据,基于SWAT模型提取犟河流域水系,通过河网“套合差”、水系相对误差、Google Map水文数据及蓝线河网对提取结果进行误差分析与综合评价,探讨河道剖面和地形特征对水系提取精度的影响。结果表明：① 集水面积阈值是决定河网水系提取精度的关键参数,阈值越大,提取的河网密度越小,反之提取的河网密度越大;② 基于河网密度与集水阈值二阶导数的幂函数与直线相切的数学求值方法确定流域最佳集水面积阈值,能避免最佳集水阈值取值的主观性,提取的河网水系与实际河道相符;③ AW3D30 DSM数据提取的流域河网水系与Google Map高分辨率影像的水系偏差最小,且AW3D30 DSM数据提取的水系与蓝线河网的河网“套合差”和水系相对误差值均最低,能真实反映中低山丘陵山区流域水系发育的疏密程度,吻合度最好;④ 多源DEM数据提取结果均显示为河床比降大和横剖面曲线为窄深式的“V”形河谷提取的水系精度高于河床比降小和横剖面曲线为 “碟”形河谷的提取精度;⑤ AW3D30 DSM数据的地形起伏和坡度标准差最大,有利于山区河网水系的提取。因此,基于SWAT模型和AW3D30 DSM数据提取的山区流域水系可最大限度反映流域水系的真实情况,精度最高,此方法和数据源可应用于中低山丘陵山区流域的水系提取研究。     

景观指数的空间尺度效应分析——以厦门岛土地利用格局为例

选取8个常用的景观指数,以厦门岛土地利用格局为例,分析景观指数随粒度变化的基本规律。探讨尺度效应对景观格局的影响,为基于景观指数进行不同尺度下土地利用类型、土地利用格局变化预测、对比分析和评价等研究提供参考。结果表明:在研究区内景观类型特征和景观格局特征随粒度的增大出现了显著的变化;除面积比例对粒度变化弱敏感外,其余所选景观指数对粒度变化相对敏感,体现出一定的尺度依赖性,因而利用这些景观指数进行不同尺度下的景观格局分析时需考虑尺度效应。     

Modelling spatial variation in the treatment costs of nonpoint source pollution in mountainous regions of southwest China

Non-point source(NPS) pollution is considered to be one of the main threats of the aquatic environment. Mountainous regions are particularly important water sources for urban areas. The various driving factors of NPS pollution such as terrain, precipitation, and vegetation type in mountainous regions show clear spatial heterogeneity. Consequently, the management systems required for NPS pollution in mountainous regions are complex. In this study, we developed a framework to estimate and map the treatment costs for NPS pollution in mountainous regions and applied this method in Baoxing County, a typical mountainous county in Sichuan Province of southwest China. The export levels of total nitrogen(TN) and total phosphorus(TP) in Baoxing County were estimated using the water purification model in InVEST(Itegrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) tool. NPS pollutant treatment costs were calculated based on the level of pollutants exports, water yield, water quality targets, and treatment costs of NPS pollutants per unit mass. The results show that at the watershed level the amounts of TN and TP exported in Baoxing County were below threshold limits. However, at the sub-watershed level, TN and TP excesses of 291.64 and 2.96 tons per year were found, respectively, with mean TN and TP treatment costs of 6.58 US$/hm~2 and 0.35 US$/hm~2. Appraising pollution treatment cost intuitively reflects the overall expenditure in NPS pollution reduction from an economic perspective. This study provides a foundation for the implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Service(PES) and the prevention and control of NPS pollution.     

Road impacts on spatial patterns of land use and landscape fragmentation in three parallel rivers region, Yunnan Province, China

The structure and function of network is a central issue in landscape ecology.Road networks with hierarchical structure are crucial for understanding landscape dynamics.In this study,we compared the distribution of national road,provincial road,county road and rural road in the Three Parallel Rivers Region(TPRR)in Yunnan Province of China,and estimated the effect of roads(and other factors)on the spatial patterns of land use and land cover with logistic regression.In addition,we analyzed the land use and land cover change(LUCC)and landscape fragmentation in 1989–2005 along a buffer zone of the primary traffic corridor,national road G214.The results showed that,county and rural roads had much higher percentage of length extending into more natural habitats at higher elevation and steeper slope,compared with the higher level roads in this region.While the distributions of natural land cover types were dominated by environmental factors,human land use types i.e.,building land and farmland types were significantly related with roads,linking more closely with lower level roads.The LUCC dynamics(1989–2005)of the G214 buffer zone showed a general trend of land transformation from conifer forests and valley arid shrubs to building land and farmland,and from ice and snow to alpine shrubs and forests.With the length of G214 unchanged during the time,the overall landscape pattern changed little in the buffer zone,but habitat fragmentation and area decrease had occurred for the natural vegetation types,in contrast to patch mergence and expansion of human land use types,and landscape fragmentation was intensified above 2500 m a.s.l.but declined below the elevation.The results indicated the dynamics of landscape composition and patch type level distribution in spite of the stability of the overall landscape pattern,and implied the potential role of roads,especially the low level roads on landscape changes.     

QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SOIL EROSION AND ELEMENT RUN-OFF IN THE SONGHUA LAKE VALLEY

Under the condition of different precipitation intensities, different gradients, different land-use types and different vegetation coverage, the soil erosion and transference of element (or pollutant) are studied by simulating and analyzing the surface run-off of experimental plots in the catchment area of Songhua Lake, with an area of about 43 370.8km^2. And the influencing factors that produce the spatial difference are analyzed and assessed. It is put for-ward that the irrational land utilization is the reason of soil erosion and pollutant run-off. The gradient of farmland,the growing season of vegetation and the vegetation coverage are chiefly restricting factors that lead to the soil ero-sion and pollutant run-off. This study can provide the fundamental data for comprehensive planning and harnessing of the non-noint source t3ollution in the valley.     

基于DEM数字河网提取时集水面积阈值与河源密度关系的研究

以研究区3030个流域水文数据为基础,利用数字高程模型（DEM）并运用非线性拟合法分析中小流域集水面积阈值与河源密度的相关关系,分析集水面积阈值与河源密度的幂函数关系可得,幂指数a近似为-1,拟合公式常系数k具有区域分布特征,反映了不同地区的河网发育程度,k值越大,河源密度越大,河网越密集,河网发育程度越高。对河源密度随集水面积阈值的变化趋势进行分析,发现2个具有统计意义的阈值临界点,分别为河源从坡面到沟道及从沟道到河道的集水面积分界点,在研究区内选择不同k值区间的贡曲流域、辰清河流域和藤条江流域作为样本流域,利用样本流域数字正射影像（DOM）手工提取其沟谷河网及主河道河网的图形信息和水文信息,并与分界点处阈值提取的河网作对比,将分析得出的河网密度相对误差率作为检验标准,对临界点的物理意义进行检验。     

Effect of environmental gradients on the quantity and quality of fallen logs in Tsuga longibracteata forest in Tianbaoyan National Nature Reserve, Fujian province, China

We investigated the quantity and quality 0f fallen l0gs in different Tsuga l0ngibracteata f0rest c0mmunities in the Tianba0yan Nati0nal Nature Reserve. We used redundancy analysis t0 determine the spatial distributi0n 0f fallen l0gs in the different f0rest c0mmunities and t0 analyze the relati0nships am0ng stand structure, t0p0graphic fact0rs and human disturbance. The v0lume, c0vered area, mean l0g length and number 0f fallen l0gs differed significantly am0ng f0rest types （P 〈 0.05）, but mean diameter at breast height sh0wed n0 significant difference （P 〉 0.05）. The l0g v0lume and c0vered area in different f0rest types sh0wed the f0ll0wing trend： T. l0ngibracteata pure f0rest 〈 T. l0ngibracteata ＋ Olig0staehyum scabrifl0rur 〈 T. l0ngibraeteata ＋ hardw00d 〈 Rh0d0dendr0n simiarum ＋ T. l0ngibraeteata 〈 T. l0ngibraeteata ＋ Phyll0stachys heter0cycla pubescens. The spatial distributi0n patterns 0f l0gs quantity and quality indicated that l0g v0lume and c0vered area were str0ngly affected by envir0nmental fact0rs in the f0ll0wing 0rder： human disturbance 〉 elevati0n 〉 sl0pe p0siti0n 〉 b0le height 〉 tree height 〉 sl0pe aspect 〉 density 〉 basal area 〉 sl0pe gradient. The relative c0ntributi0n 0f envir0nmental variables 0n the t0tal variance was t0p0graphy （76%） 〉 disturbance （42%） 〉 stand structure （35%）. T0p0graphy and disturbance c0mbined explained 8.2% 0f the variance. Fallen l0~s auantitv and aualitvwere negatively related t0 elevati0n and sl0pe p0siti0n, and p0sitively ass0ciated t0 human disturbance. The l0g v0lume decreased fr0m n0rthern t0 s0uthern sl0pes. Envir0nmental fact0rs had the highest impact 0n class I （slightly decayed）, and l0west impact 0n class V （highly decayed）.     

Development of a new index for integrating landscape patterns with ecological processes at watershed scale

Understanding the relationship between landscape patterns and ecological processes has been a central yet challenging research theme in landscape ecology. Over the past decades, many landscape metrics have been proposed but few directly incorporated ecological processes. In this paper, we developed a landscape index, namely, location-weighted landscape index (LWLI) to highlight the role of landscape type in ecological processes, such as nutrient losses and soil erosion. Within the framework of the Lorenz curve theory, we develop this index by integrating landscape pattern and point-based measurements at a watershed scale. The index can be used to characterize the contribution of landscape pattern to ecological processes (e.g. nutrient losses) with respect to a specific monitoring point in a watershed. Through a case study on nutrient losses in an agricultural area in northeastern China, we found that nutrient losses tended to be higher for a watershed with a higher LWLI value, and vice versa. It implied that LWLI can be used to evaluate the potential risk of nutrient losses or soil erosion by comparing their values across watersheds. In addition, this index can be extended to characterize ecological processes, such as the effect of landscape pattern on wildlife inhabitation and urban heat island effect. Finally, we discuss several problems that should be paid attention to when applying this index to a heterogeneous landscape site.     

Vertical patterns in plant diversity and their relations with environmental factors on the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains (middle section) in Xinjiang (China)

The investigation of distribution patterns of species diversity is significant for successful biodiversity conservation. The spatial patterns of vegetation and different life-forms species diversity along an elevation gradient in the middle section of the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, China were explored, using the detrended canonical correspondence analysis(DCCA) and the generalized additive model(GAM) methods based on a field survey of 53 sampling plots. In this work 158 species of seed plants were recorded, including 141 herbaceous, 14 shrub, and 2 tree species, in which the woody plants are very limited. 53 sampling plots were classified into 9 major plant communities. The results indicate that the herb communities were the most sensitive to changes in elevation gradient. The diversity indices of the community as a whole presented bimodal patterns. The peak values for the species diversities were found in the transition region between mountain steppe desert and mountain desert steppe(2,200–2,300m), and in the alpine grassland region(2,900–3,100m), while maximum species diversities were in the areas of intermediate environmental gradient. The main environmental factors on the distribution patterns in plant diversity were the elevation, soil water, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, organic matter, and total salt. The response tendency of the four diversity indices for the whole community to the soil environment was the same as that of the herb layers.     

Spatial distribution of land cover and vegetation activity along topographic gradient in an arid river valley, SW China

Anthropogenic activities have become more and more important in characterizing the landscape, but their impacts are still restricted by natural environments. This paper discusses the interactions of anthropogenic activity, vegetation activity and topography through describing the spatial distribution of land cover and vegetation activity （represented by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI） along topographic gradient in a mountainous area of southwestern China. Our results indicate that the existing landscape pattern is controlled by anthropogenic activities as well as topographic factors. Intensive anthropogenic activities mainly occur in areas with relatively low elevation, gentle and concave slopes, as these areas are easy and convenient to attain for human. Because of the destruction by human, some land cover types （mainly grassland and shrub） are only found in relatively harsher environments. This study also finds that topographic wetness index （W） used in other places only reflects runoff generation capacity, but not indicate the real spatial pattern of soil water content in this area. The relationships between NDVI and W, and NDVI and length slope factor （LSF） show that runoff and erosion have complex effects on vegetation activity. Greater values of W and LSF will lead to stronger capacity to produce runoff and transport sediment, and thereby increase soil water content and soil deposition, whereas beyond a certain threshold runoff and erosion are so strong that they would destruct vegetation growth. This study provides information needed to successfully restore native vegetation, improve land management, and promote sustainable development in mountainous areas, especially for developing regions.