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.     

抚顺盆地中-晚始新世古植被与古气候

为重建东北地区中-晚始新世古气候,对抚顺盆地孢粉进行传统鉴定,利用有序聚类分析划分孢粉组合,结合共存分析法对孢粉组合定量化以建立研究区的古气候参数值 . 鉴定出孢粉 67 属,划分出(I)Quercoidites-Tricolpopollenites- Betulaceoipollenites 组合;(Ⅱ) Picea...     

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。     

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。     

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。     

柴达木盆地大红沟地区始新世—上新世孢粉记录及气候变化

柴达木盆地发育了一套完整的古近纪—新近纪河湖相沉积地层,选择在其北缘大红沟剖面采集沉积物样品进行孢粉鉴定分析。根据孢粉组合特征划分出14个孢粉组合带,揭示了该地区古近纪到新近纪的植被、气候变化历史。结果显示:该地区古近纪—新近纪植被代表一种北亚热带常绿阔叶林→暖温带、温带落叶阔叶针叶林→温带针阔叶混交林→山体针叶林→干旱草原荒漠的植被生态景观演变过程。通过对柴达木盆地大红沟剖面植被面貌分析,推断古近纪—新近纪期间研究区气候存在多次冷暖干湿变化,呈现出由暖湿向冷干发展的趋势。11~9 Ma低温干燥的特征与中新世中期全球气候适宜期趋势不一致,可能是盆地构造运动导致的区域特殊性。     

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。     

Map of vegetation during the last glacial maximum in Japan

A vegetation map reconstructed for the Japanese Archipelago (based upon pollen data from 28 sites and plant macrofossil data from 33 sites) at the time of last glacial maximum shows that coniferous forests covered extensive areas of the land. Boreal conifer forests (dominated by the Picea jezoensis complex, P. glehnii, Abies sachalinensis, A. mariesii, Tsuga diversifolia, and Pinus with Larix gmelinii, though the latter species was confined only to the northern part of northeastern Honshu and Hokkaido) occupied the modern cool-temperature deciduous broadleaf and mid-temperate conifer forest zones, and temperate coniferous forests (mainly Picea maximowiczii, P. polita, P. bicolor, P. koyamai, Abies firma, A. homolepis, Tsuga sieboldii, and Pinus), the present warm-temperate evergreen (laurilignosa) forest zone. Small populations of various broadleaf forest species were scattered in the full-glacial temperate conifer forest mainly along the coastal belt, and the true laurilignosa forest was limited in distribution, occurring only in the paleo-Yaku Peninsula.     

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.     

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。     

中国全球变化样带的设置与研究

为研究中国全球变化与陆地生态系统(ＧＣＴＥ)关系及过去全球变化(ＰＡＧＥＳ)需要，我国全球变化样带(ＣＥＮＴ)将分别按经向(Ｅ１１０—１２０°)和纬向(Ｎ４０°)设置。第一样带(ＣＥＮＴＩ)系中国东部森林生态系统样带，是沿着热量梯度，在东亚季风控制下的各个森林地带的生态系列。第二样带(ＣＥＮＴＺ)系中国北温带森林－草原－荒漠生态系统样带，是沿着湿度梯度，由大陆性气候向海洋性气候过渡的生态系列。在样带上进行生物地球化学过程、能量交换、植被结构与动态、气候－植被关系、土地利用格局、模型测试和遥感校验等研究。     

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.     

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。     

甘肃窑街朱儿庄红层孢粉组合与地质时代

对窑街朱儿庄红层的孢粉和地层层序及时代进行了系统分析与对比研究。在朱儿庄红层剖面中划分出３个孢粉组合:①枫香粉属－楝粉属组合，时代为早－中始新世；②柳粉属－朴粉属－粉属组合，属始新世中、晚期；③栎粉属－柳粉属－粉属组合，属晚始新世－早渐新世。研究表明:窑街地区朱儿庄红层始新世孢粉组合与中国东、西部地区孢粉组合相似，均发育以亚热带和暖温带植物为主的亚热带型落叶阔叶林，气候炎热；始新世晚期至早渐新世则演变为以暖温带落叶阔叶树种为主的针阔叶混交林植被，气候温暖湿润。     

全球变化压力下中国东部样带植被与农业生态系统格局的可能性变化

在中国东部南北样带NSTEC大量实验数据的基础上 ,对热量梯度驱动下自然植被生态系统连续带的生产力变化进行模拟 ,对反映植被组成结构特征的生活型谱的变化 ,以及在全球变化平均温度可能增加的情况下 ,农业生态系统的生产格局的变化进行分析。在这一样带中 ,从南到北地带性植被有北热带季节雨林、南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林、中亚热带常绿阔叶林、北亚热带常绿落叶混交林、暖温带落叶阔叶林、温带针阔叶混交林和寒温带针叶林。模拟在温度增加 1℃的情况下生产力的变化 ;由南部的北热带季节雨林和南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林增加约 1%到温带针阔叶混交林和寒温带针叶林增加约 5 %～ 6 %,显示出生产力增加强度随纬度增大具一定相关关系。植被的物种结构变化比生产力变化缓慢得多。对样带的森林植被的生活型谱进行分析 ,表明其存在着 8种主要的生活谱结构类型。在平均温度增加的情况下 ,不同生活型谱结构的生态系统分布呈现向北扩展位移的趋势。在农业生态系统的格局中 ,在平均温度增加的情况下 ,南亚热带水稻三熟将不会季节太紧而有可能进行大面积三造生产。中亚热带双季稻连作一年三熟受低温影响减少。北亚热带一年二熟季节上有保证。暖温带许多地方能有二造收成。温带和寒温带的生产面积将有较大幅度的增加。总     

Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction from the last interglacial using phytolith analysis,southeastern North Island,New Zealand

Phytoliths extracted from loess resting conformably on lacustrine sediments in southeastern North Island, New Zealand, provide a nearly continuous vegetation–climate record spanning the time period from the last interglacial (Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 5) to the present. Phytoliths reveal changes in vegetation patterns following changes in climate. Correlation between tree–shrub phytolith fluctuations and the SPECMAP oxygen isotope curve, between Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages 1 and 5, suggest that changes in the ratio of arboreal to non‐arboreal phytoliths directly result from changes in climate. These data generally support the existing pollen and diatom record. This study confirms the usefulness of phytolith fossils for providing environmental and climate information from the Quaternary sedimentary record, especially in cases where the deposits contain no fossil pollen or diatoms. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

甘肃窑街寺湾沟－炭洞沟红层孢粉组合、地质时代与生态环境

对窑街寺湾沟－炭洞沟红层孢粉和地层层序及时代进行了系统分析与对比研究。在该剖面中划分出２个孢粉组合:①双束松粉属－无口器粉属－杉粉属－栎粉属－瘤面海金砂孢属组合，时代为早渐新世；②双束松粉属－拟桦粉属－栎粉属－藜粉属－瘤面海金沙孢属组合，属中渐新世。研究表明:窑街寺湾沟－炭洞沟红层剖面的层位位于朱儿庄剖面之上，整个窑街地区的红层剖面属始新统－中渐新统；窑街地区始新世孢粉组合与中国东、西部地区孢粉组合相似，均发育以亚热带和暖温带植物为主的亚热带型落叶阔叶林，气候炎热；始新世晚期至早渐新世则演变为以暖温带落叶阔叶树种为主的针阔叶混交林植被，气候温暖湿润；中渐新世为暖温带落叶阔叶林，气候较温暖湿润。区域对比分析表明，从渐新世早期中国东、西部植被开始出现差异并逐渐加大，该时期也许是中国新构造运动的一个重要时期。     

Phytoliths as indicators of pedogenesis and paleoenvironmental changes in the Brazilian cerrado

This paper presents the preliminary results of phytolith analyses of a peat located in the cerrado of the Uberaba municipality, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The phytolith soil sequence is discussed by comparison with phytolith assemblages extracted from dominant plants (Cyperaceae and Poaceae). Increasing mean age of phytolith assemblages with depth is assumed. Poaceae Cuneiform bulliform cell, Parallelepiped bulliform cell and Elongate smooth long cell types dominate up to 80 cm, rapidly drop to 42% at 80 cm and regularly decrease from 42% to 2% upwards. Cyperaceae Rondel concave type shows the inverse trend, being dominant in the upper part of the profile. This pattern can be assigned to increasing selective dissolution of the Cyperaceae phytolith type with depth, or/and to a decrease of water stress suffered by the grasses, leading to a decrease of bulliform cell silicification. Soil processes and paleo-environmental changes hypotheses are discussed.