放牧制度对荒漠草原可萌发土壤种子库的影响

 以内蒙古苏尼特右旗短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,通过划区轮牧与自由放牧的比较试验,研究可萌发土壤种子库对不同放牧制度的响应。结果表明:①可萌发种子库物种组成在划区轮牧草地为11种,自由放牧草地为8种,封育禁牧区为9种,划区轮牧较自由放牧和禁牧有利于提高草地群落可萌发土壤种子库的植物种数以及多年生优良牧草;可萌发土壤种子库密度在封育禁牧区为(19 533.33±10 552.83)粒·m-2,划区轮牧区为(3 233.33±524.21)粒·m-2,自由放牧区为(2 553.60±2 152.48)粒·m-2,可萌发土壤种子库密度封育禁牧区显著高于划区轮牧区与自由放牧区,两放牧处理间无显著差异。②不同处理可萌发土壤种子库垂直分布有共同趋势, 有75.06%~83.19%分布在0~5 cm土层内,14.16%~21.68%分布在5~10 cm土层内,2.65%~4.90%分布在10~15 cm土层内,且不同土层可萌发土壤种子库密度均为封育禁牧区显著高于划区轮牧区与自由放牧区,两放牧处理间无显著差异。③划区轮牧区可萌发土壤种子库的丰富度指数和多样性指数高于自由放牧区。划区轮牧区和封育禁牧区可萌发土壤种子库组成的相似性系数最大,为0.857。     

Effects of camel grazing on the ecology of small perennial plants in the Dubai (UAE) inland desert

Camel grazing is recognized as a primary cause of ecological degradation in the UAE. A study of perennial plant species <1 m in height was conducted along a fence separating continuously camel grazed land from land in which camels had been replaced by oryx and gazelle species for 5 years (Al Maha). Vegetation regeneration in Al Maha in the absence of camels was considerable on all substrates (gravel, stable sand, and semi-stable sand) but was greatest on the gravel substratum, indicating that ecology in this habitat is most at risk. Observed regeneration was primarily through vegetative reproduction and growth of existing plants, showing that existing species can tolerate heavy grazing. Therefore, an equilibrium grazing model of continuous and reversible vegetation dynamics is most suitable for management of this ecological zone. Species richness was greater in Al Maha due to the greater number of plants, but biodiversity was unaffected. There was some evidence of localized dune stabilization within Al Maha due to increased vegetative cover. Further recovery of vegetation within Al Maha is discussed. This study highlights the need for reduced grazing pressure throughout the Dubai inland desert, and in particular on gravel substrata.     

Grazing response in the vegetation communities of the Kamiesberg, South Africa: Adopting a plant functional type approach

Potential grazing impacts associated with the sustained heavy grazing of a communal rangeland are explored through a plant functional type approach. An informative typology is derived that shows grazing responses. An examination of plant functional types within growth forms does not provide any additional insights, whereas looking at traits alone does demonstrate a grazing response with increases in the traits of large basal and erect leafy growth forms and losses in the traits of medium height, simple leaves and few flowers. There is also evidence of a biogeographic shift, with an increase in a succulent-dominated plant functional type at higher altitudes on the heavily grazed communal rangeland. This is attributed to the fact that in adopting the proposed universal language advocated by plant functional type practitioners some of the subtleties of this particular vegetation type are lost. For example growth form height classes are too coarse for the shorter vegetation of the Succulent Karoo. In the resultant ‘fuzzy’ groups, responses are lost. While the method adopted is informative a stronger case is made for a more simple growth form analysis traditionally adopted in rangeland analysis.     

Modelling grazed grassland systems: wether sheep grazing perennial ryegrass

A simple model or a lowland sheep flock grazing a ryegrass sward is described, which incorporates herbage growth and deterioration; the mechanics of grazing, herbage intake and animal production. The model takes into account the effects of climate, the availability of water and nitrogen and the frequency and intensity of defoliation on herbage production; diet selection by the grazing animal; the effects of herbage digestibility and animal body weight on intake; and the fate of the organic matter ingested by the ruminant. Preliminary results comparing continuous and rotational grazing systems and different levels of nitrogen fertilizer application are discussed. Some possible areas for further applied research are also outlined.     

Reproductive biology of Opuntia: A review

A review of the reproductive biology of fleshy-fruited species of Opuntia sensu stricto was conducted. Among Cactaceae, Opuntia is the most diverse and widely distributed genus in the Americas. The genus is strongly associated with bee pollination and coevolution with at least two bee genera is suggested. Fruits and vegetative parts, such as spiny cladodes, are closely linked with seed dispersal and highly efficient vegetative dissemination by animals. Vegetative multiplication appears to be more efficient than sexual reproduction for plant recruitment. Both sexual reproduction and plant multiplication seem to have contributed to the ecological and evolutionary success of the genus, but empirical evidence is lacking.     

Diet of a fossorial rodent (Octodontidae), above-ground food availability,and changes related to cattle grazing in the Central Monte (Argentina)

Overgrazing by livestock has caused desertification in the Monte, where ctenomyids and livestock share grasses as main food items. The diet of Ctenomys eremophilus, above-ground food availability and changes related to cattle grazing are analyzed in the arid plain of Mendoza, Argentina. The most available categories were grasses, followed by low shrubs and tall shrubs. Tuco-tucos showed dietary generalism, ate mainly above-ground plant parts, preferred grasses and avoided shrubs at both grazed and ungrazed sites. Plant cover, grass diversity and availability decreased under livestock grazing, which was reflected in the diet by a lower percentage of grasses, a shift toward low shrubs and higher number of frequently used resources. Tuco-tucos in the grazed paddock compensated for lower consumption of vegetative plant parts by increasing the use of Prosopis flexuosa pods stored inside burrows. Moreover, greater dietary variation among individuals suggests foraging restricted to the items closest to burrow holes. These feeding tactics would allow them to reduce above-ground foraging as a response to high raptor predation risk due to increased bare soil. The plant recovery detected during the rest period, favoured by moderate stocking rate and rotational grazing system, would allow coexistence of tuco-tucos and cattle.     

Rangeland management impacts on the properties of clayey soils along grazing gradients in the semi-arid grassland biome of South Africa

The grassland biome of South Africa is a major resource for livestock farming; yet the soils of these rangelands are stressed differently by various management systems. The aim of this study was to investigate how basic soil properties respond to different management systems. For this purpose we sampled rangeland management systems under communal (continuous grazing), commercial (rotational grazing) and land reform (mixture of grazing systems) farming. Within each of these systems a grazing gradient was identified with decreasing grazing pressure with increasing distance to the water points. Results showed that communal farms with continuous grazing were generally depleted in the respective nutrient stocks. The depletion increased with rising grazing pressure. Along that line there was a breakdown of macroaggregates with losses of the C and N stored therein. However, the commercial farms also exhibited a decline of macroaggregates and their associated C content nearby the water points. Aggregate fractionation is a sensitive indicator for detecting the beginning of soil degradation in this biome; yet, degradation was less pronounced under the rotational grazing of the commercial farms than under communal property right conditions. Hence, soil analyses confirm that fences and appropriate grazing periods are needed to manage these rangelands sustainably.     

Stress resistance strategy in an arid land shrub: interactions between developmental instability and fractal dimension

This paper investigates allocation of energy to mechanisms that generate and preserve architectural forms (i.e. developmental stability, complexity of branching patterns) and productivity (growth and reproduction) in response to environmental disturbances (i.e. grazing and resource availability). The statistical error in translational symmetry was used to detect random intra-individual variability during development. This can be thought of as a measure of developmental instability caused by stress. Additionally, we use changes in fractal complexity and shoot distribution of branch structures as an alternate indicator of stress. These methods were applied to Anthyllis cytisoides L., a semi-arid environment shrub, to ascertain the effect of grazing and slope exposure on developmental traits in a 2×2 factorial design. The results show that A. cytisoides maintains developmental stability at the expense of productivity. Anthyllis cytisoides was developmentally more stable when grazed and when on south-facing, as opposed to north-facing slopes. On the contrary, shoot length, leaf area, fractal dimension and reproductive-to-vegetative allocation ratio were larger in north- than in south-facing slopes. As a consequence, under extreme xeric conditions, shrub mortality increased in north-facing slopes, especially when not grazed. The removal of transpiring area and the reduction of plant competition favoured developmental stability and survival in grazed plants. Differences between grazed and ungrazed plants were most evident in more mesic (north-facing) areas.     

基于幂函数法则对放牧梯度上种群空间异质性的定量分析

 在呼伦贝尔草原的克氏针茅群落选择轻牧、中牧、重牧3个不同的放牧梯度,沿着50 m样线设置100个50 cm×50 cm的L型样方,每个L型样方内划分4个25 cm×25 cm的S型样方,以物种出现的频度（p）作为植被空间分布的观测指标,采用幂函数法则对放牧梯度上草原植物群落物种的空间异质性进行了定量研究。结果表明,在不同放牧强度下,种类结构发生明显改变,轻度放牧区羊草和星状刺骨藜、中度放牧区藜和糙隐子草、重度放牧区猪毛菜和多根葱具有高的出现频度,群落物种数随着放牧压力的增大而减小。整体来看,放牧梯度上物种的空间分布呈现明显的聚集分布,物种空间异质性（δi）随着放牧强度的增大而增加,拟合于幂函数规律曲线;群落的空间异质性（δc）随着轻牧-中牧-重牧放牧演替的进展呈现降低趋势,种群个体分布呈现片断化特征。在群落内部各个种群具有不同的异质化分布特点,物种结构主要表现出密集型种群和疏散型种群两大类型。这些趋势与种群的繁殖策略、生活史对策、群落的再生产策略等生理与生态特性密切相关。     

沙坡头人工固沙区一年生植物小画眉草繁殖分配研究

沙坡头人工固沙区不同始植年代一年生植物小画眉草(Eragrostis poaeoides)的繁殖分配研究。结果表明:无论在种群水平还是在个体水平上,都反映出:(1) 在不同的始植年代,个体大小与繁殖体大小均不相同,其排列顺序依次为1956年样地 > 1964年样地 > 1981年样地 > 1987年样地;(2) 在不同始植年代下小画眉草有性繁殖分配的大小存在差异,有的甚至达到显著或极显著的水平,小画眉草有性繁殖分配的大小与沙面固定的长短有关(大小依次排序:1956年样地 > 1964年样地 > 1981年样地 > 1987年样地),1956年固沙区小画眉草用于繁殖的投资比例达到(70.17±6.24)%,远高于1987年固沙区的(59.18±8.75)%。(3)地上营养器官生物量、茎重、叶片数和叶重在四个年代差异不显著,说明这些指标既受固沙时间长短的影响,也可能受其他因素的控制。通过研究,我们得到以下结论:随着沙面固定时间的延长,一年生植物生存的环境相对好转,一年生植物把更多的资源和能量用于繁殖,增加其种群规模;沙丘固定时间相对短的,一年生植物将把更多的资源和能量用于营养生长,以抵御不利的生长环境。