科尔沁沙地草地植被对围封和放牧的响应

研究了科尔沁沙地疏林草地、针茅草原和草甸植被盖度、地上和地下生物量、物种多样性对围封和放牧的响应。结果表明：（1）围封与放牧草地的优势植物不同,围封草地植物群落优势植物为多年生禾本科植物,放牧草地中一年生植物和小半灌木优势明显。（2）围封和放牧草地的植物盖度、凋落物量、地上生物量和物种丰富度存在明显差异（P<0.05）;围封显著提高了植被盖度和地上生物量,由疏林草地、针茅草原到草甸,植物盖度和地上生物量逐渐增加,而3种草地植被凋落物量大小顺序为针茅草原> 疏林草地> 草甸;放牧条件下植物盖度、凋落物量和物种丰富度差异不显著（P>0.05）。（3）3种草地之间的地下生物量无显著差异（P>0.05）,但围封与放牧之间、不同土壤层次之间地下生物量存在明显差异（P<0.05）;围封显著提高草地的地下生物量（P<0.05）;草地地下生物量随着土壤深度表现出下降趋势（P<0.05）。长期放牧增加了草地一年生植物和小半灌木植物的优势,消除了不同草地之间植被盖度和物种丰富度的差异;而围封能提高草地多年生禾本科植物的优势、增加其物种丰富度,对于草地质量和植物多样性的恢复和保育具有积极作用。     

High belowground biomass allocation in an upland black spruce (Picea mariana) stand in interior Alaska

The root system of forest trees account for a significant proportion of the total forest biomass. However, data is particularly limited for forests in permafrost regions. In this study, therefore, we estimated the above- and belowground biomass of a black spruce (Picea mariana) stand underlain with permafrost in interior Alaska. Allometric equations were established using 4–6 sample trees to estimate the biomass of the aboveground parts and the coarse roots (roots >5 mm in diameter) of P. mariana trees. The aboveground biomass of understory plants and the fine-root biomass were estimated by destructive sampling. The aboveground and coarse-root biomasses of the P. mariana trees were estimated to be 3.97 and 2.31 kg m^?2, respectively. The aboveground biomass of understory vascular plants such as Ledum groenlandicum and the biomass of forest floor mosses and lichens were 0.10 and 0.62 kg m^?2, respectively. The biomass of fine roots <5 mm in diameter was 1.27 kg m^?2. Thus, the above- and belowground biomasses of vascular plants in the P. mariana stand were estimated to be 4.07 and 3.58 kg m^?2, respectively, indicating that belowground biomass accounted for 47% of the total biomass of vascular plants. Fine-root biomass was 36% of the total root biomass, of which 90% was accumulated in the surface organic layer. Thus, this P. mariana stand can be characterized as having extremely high belowground biomass allocation, which would make it possible to grow on permafrost with limited soil resource availability.     

Influence of some landscape factors on the belowground plant biomass distribution in mountain ecosystems of Armenia

Presented are the results from investigating the belowground biomass of grass associations as an important factor of functional stability of mountain ecosystems. Field investigations were conducted in plant communities of the dry-steppe, meadow-steppe and alpine belts of Armenia at altitudes of 1200–3250 m above the sea level. It is shown that the conditions of vertical belts, topography and the slope aspect of the mountain landscapes under investigation have influence on belowground biomass accumulation and distribution in the profile of the root layer of soils.     

甘蒙柽柳幼苗生长动态及其对沙漠腹地生境条件的适应策略

沙漠腹地水是限制植物生长发育的主要因子。而植物改变其根系的生长速度,利用深层土壤水是抗旱的重要机制。试验中采用一次性灌溉的方法探讨防护林主要物种之一甘蒙柽柳(Tamarix austrom ongolica)幼苗在土壤水分逐渐旱化条件下的生长发育状况。分别在五月,七月,九月和十月采用水冲法和壕沟法将幼苗根系全部冲出,并测量各项生长指标。结果显示在逐渐旱化的生境中,柽柳幼苗生长在时间和空间上表现出不同的适应特征。柽柳幼苗垂直根和水平根的最大生长速率出现时间均早于地上株高和冠幅的最大生长速率所出现的时间。垂直根的生长速率分别为:1.178,0.150,0.089和0.133 cm/d;株高的生长速率分别为:0.127,0.107,0.070和0.053 cm/d。说明柽柳幼苗根系在空间上具有生长速度的优势。整个生长季中幼苗地上、地下生物指标的生长速率在垂直方向呈现"逐渐递减"趋势,水平方向则呈现出此消彼长相互交替的生长趋势,同时柽柳幼苗根冠比在不同时期分别为:0.602,0.589,0.636和0.634 cm/d。这些特性是柽柳幼苗适应逐渐旱化生境生长策略选择的综合表现。     

祁连山干旱山地草地生物量对水分条件的响应

以祁连山排露沟流域干旱山地为研究对象,对海拔2 700~3 000 m典型草地群落的草本种类、高度和生物量等进行调查,并同步测定样地内的土壤水分,分析草地生物量随海拔高度的季节性变化特征以及草本生物量和土壤水分的关系。结果表明：（1）草地地上生物量平均值为135.36 g·m^-2,并随海拔升高呈先增加后降低的"单峰"变化模式,在海拔2 900 m时最高,为176.79±28.37 g·m^-2。地下生物量平均值为946.13 g·m^-2,并随海拔升高生物量呈递增趋势,在海拔3 000 m时最高,为1 301.19 ±68.24 g·m^-2。（2）草地地上、地下生物量在不同海拔高度间差异性显著（P<0.05）;该流域干旱山地草地根冠比在4.14~11.95之间变化。（3）在生长季5~9月份,干旱山地草地土壤含水量在9.23%~31.31%之间波动,平均值为14.94%。（4）草本地上、地下生物量与土壤平均含水量均呈显著正相关（P<0.05）,相关性系数分别为0.7784和0.7843。在不同海拔草地群落中,不同土层含水量对草地生物量的贡献不尽相同,但60 cm以上根系主要分布层内的水分对草地生物量具有重要的意义。     

TEMPORAL SENSITIVITY OF REGIONAL CLIMATE TO LAND-SURFACE HETEROGENEITY

Increased interest in climate change at local and regional scales has prompted climate simulations for regional areas, but tests of climate models have not specifically examined the impacts of regional heterogeneity, and they have largely overlooked possible temporal sensitivity. In this study I used a coupled surface-atmosphere mesoscale model to evaluate the effects of regional heterogeneity in five land-surface parameters that have the strongest impacts on the surface energy balance: albedo, roughness, canopy resistance, rooting profile, and soil water content. I included temporal variability in climate sensitivity by completing a series of mid-month simulations representative of the June-September growing season. I modeled land surfaces of maize contrasted with bare soil, grass, or coniferous trees. Roughness discontinuities were important factors in determining regional energy balance and surface temperature for all three surface contrasts. The effects varied over the growing season as a function of maize height. Canopy resistance was equally important, especially during the middle of the season when the maize canopy was at its fullest extent. Albedo effects appeared to be secondary, but often were more important in September. Changes in soil water content had little impact because vegetation in these simulations was not stressed by low soil moisture. The importance of roots in these simulations was primarily a function of their presence or absence, rather than of the specific profile assigned to each vegetation type. Roughness and canopy resistance discontinuities appeared to play the largest role in determining the regional average energy balance and surface temperature for growing season dates. [Key words: land-surface heterogeneity, energy balance, climatology.]     

Leaf nitrogen productivity as a mechanism driving the success of invasive annual grasses under low and high nitrogen supply

Invasion of the historically perennial-dominated landscapes in the Great Basin by exotic winter annual grasses is one of the most serious plant invasions in North America. Evidence suggests invasive annuals outperform native perennials under N-poor and N-rich conditions. The objective of this study was to identify key traits contributing to the success of invasive annual grasses in these environments. Three invasive annual grasses, two native perennial grasses and one introduced perennial grass were exposed to three levels of N supply. Root biomass, root length, root N uptake rate, root and leaf morphology, leaf nitrogen productivity (leaf NP) as well as biomass and N allocation were quantified over four harvests. Path analysis indicated that leaf NP was the key trait contributing to variation in N capture among the species. Species with a higher leaf NP produced more root length and consequently captured more N under a range of soil N availability. This suggests variation in leaf NP may be one critical trait determining the ability of the resident plant community to resist establishment of these invaders. Restoration programs may be able to increase weed resistance by specifically selecting for this trait in revegetation efforts.     

Does land use matter in an arid Environment? A case study from the Hoanib River catchment, north-western Namibia

The effect of intensive grazing and browsing of domestic stock and wildlife on the number of species and abundance of vegetation was investigated in the Hoanib River catchment, north-western Namibia. The seasonal abundance of ground cover, bare earth, canopy cover, annual grass, perennial grass and annual forbs were measured in each of the focus-study areas. In three of the focus areas where the ranges of both domestic stock and wildlife were restricted either by fencing or water availability, impact on the vegetation was greatest. The final focus area was a more ‘open range’ system that allowed for the free movement of wildlife. Under these conditions the species abundance and availability of browsing and grazing was greater than the other focus areas during both the wet and dry seasons. However, very little difference in abundance and availability of vegetation was observed between focus areas in both seasons regardless of landuse. There is generally a low abundance of perennial grasses and browse species affording the ecosystem little resistance and resilience to disturbance caused by grazing and drought.     

Long-term vegetation response to mesquite removal in Desert Grassland

Forty-six years of vegetation response to mesquite removal at dry, low elevation sites on the Santa Rita Experimental Range in southern Arizona was only slightly different than the vegetation dynamics where mesquite trees were left intact. Only the density of threeawn grass species (Aristida spp.) was greater in the mesquite removal areas: and that difference persisted even after the cover of mesquite was no longer different between treatment and control areas. Cover of shrubs and perennial grasses, and density of all other perennial grasses did not differ between mesquite treatments throughout the study period. Mesquite cover on treated areas was not different than untreated areas 40 years after tree removal. The long-term results support the interpretation that vegetation dynamics at these dry locations, are not limited by the abundance of neighbouring mesquite. Alternatively, mesquite abundance is self-limiting at levels less than would influence grass abundance and precipitation anomalies may override any effects of neighbouring mesquite. Practically, these results suggest that areas with 350 mm year⁻¹ of annual precipitation and <20% mesquite cover may have very little potential for increasing grass abundance through the removal of mesquite trees.     

Monitoring vegetation dynamics in semi-arid African rangelands: Use and limitations of Earth observation data to characterize vegetation structure

Vegetation community structure is a key indicator of long-term vegetation change in semi-arid ecosystems. This study uses ground-based spectral measurements and a canopy reflectance model to investigate the potential of Earth observation data to characterize variations in vegetation structure along a grazing gradient in the eastern Kalahari, Botswana. Despite differences in the bidirectional reflectances of soil, plant litter, bush and grass canopies towards the end of a dry season, it is unlikely that Earth observation data can be used to estimate vegetation structure at this time. This is due to an ambiguity in the relationship between spectral reflectance and vegetation structure caused primarily by the limited dimensionality of reflectance data. Variations in canopy architecture cause differences in the level of inter-canopy shadowing but the net effect—lower reflectance with an increase in bush cover—parallels the darkening effects of any vegetation cover on relatively bright sandy soils in semi-arid environments. These results highlight the continued need for long-term ground-based ecological monitoring in conjunction with satellite-based monitoring of changes in vegetation cover.     

陕西黄土高原土壤干层对植树造林的影响

根据野外考察和陕北、关中土壤含水量测定,讨论了陕西黄土高原土壤干层的分布范围及其对恢复植被的影响。资料表明,黄土高原土壤干层分布普遍,向南分布已达关中平原地区。不同植被带土壤干层发生原因有一定差别,干层发育程度有明显不同。在生态环境建设中,应根据不同地区土壤干层发育强度差别恢复不同类型的植被。在以往划分的延安以南的落叶阔叶林带,土壤干层发育较轻,可采取草、灌、乔木相结合的措施逐步恢复森林植被。在延安到长城之间的森林草原带,土壤干层发育严重,应当先发展草灌植被,后恢复森林草原植被。在长城以北的草原带应自然恢复草原植被。在土壤干层发育严重的地区,造林一般不能带来环境效益与经济效益,反而会导致深部土壤水分的过量消耗等不良后果,是不适于造林的地区。在黄土高原退耕还林还草的生态建设中,不论是发展人工林还是发展草灌为主的植被,都不宜选择耗水多、生长快的植物种,而应当发展生长适中偏慢的乔、灌、草种。     

Quantifying root-reinforcement of river bank soils by four Australian tree species

The increased shear resistance of soil due to root-reinforcement by four common Australian riparian trees, Casuarina glauca, Eucalyptus amplifolia, Eucalyptus elata and Acacia floribunda, was determined in-situ with a field shear-box. Root pull-out strengths and root tensile-strengths were also measured and used to evaluate the utility of the root-reinforcement estimation models that assume simultaneous failure of all roots at the shear plane. Field shear-box results indicate that tree roots fail progressively rather than simultaneously. Shear-strengths calculated for root-reinforced soil assuming simultaneous root failure, yielded values between 50% and 215% higher than directly measured shear-strengths. The magnitude of the overestimate varies among species and probably results from differences in both the geometry of the root-system and tensile strengths of the root material. Soil blocks under A. floribunda which presents many, well-spread, highly-branched fine roots with relatively higher tensile strength, conformed most closely with root model estimates; whereas E. amplifolia, which presents a few, large, unbranched vertical roots, concentrated directly beneath the tree stem and of relatively low tensile strength, deviated furthest from model-estimated shear-strengths. These results suggest that considerable caution be exercised when applying estimates of increased shear-strength due to root-reinforcement in riverbank stability modelling. Nevertheless, increased soil shear strength provided by tree roots can be calculated by knowledge of the Root Area Ratio (RAR) at the shear plane. At equivalent RAR values, A. floribunda demonstrated the greatest earth reinforcement potential of the four species studied.     

The impact of tree cover loss on land surface temperature: A case study of central Massachusetts using Landsat Thematic Mapper thermal data

Land surface temperature (LST) variability results from diversity in urban surface materials over space and time such that locations with impervious urban cover experience higher temperature and larger temperature variation compared to non-impervious cover. There is growing awareness that warmer temperatures in urban locations negatively impact city residents by increasing heat related death and energy usage during heat waves. However, little previous work investigates the linkages between urban tree cover loss events related to invasive species eradication and urban heat trends. This paper examines the variation in LST using Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) thermal imagery in Worcester County, Massachusetts where over 30,000 trees were removed since 2008 to eradicate the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), most of which existed in urban residential areas. Throughout the study area a 10% loss in tree canopy cover caused a 0.7 °C increase in LST whereas a 10% increase in sub-canopy impervious surface area exposed due to tree loss caused 1.66 °C increase in LST. The Burncoat and Greendale neighborhoods in northern Worcester experienced a combined 48% tree cover loss from 2008 to 2010 due to ALB eradication and an average relative LST increase of 2.4 °C (range 0.6–4.1 °C). Given that areas with an increase in exposed impervious surface produce greater temperature increases than areas of tree loss, future tree replanting efforts may focus on locations that reduce exposed impervious surfaces.     

沙丘先锋植物——沙蓬生长可塑性的研究

 无论是大尺度降水的分异还是小尺度土壤湿度的差异都影响植物的生长可塑性。比较科尔沁沙地和腾格里沙漠沙蓬的生长分异, 并用地统计学方法探讨了腾格里沙漠沙蓬生长可塑性的空间变化, 结果表明：科尔沁沙地和腾格里沙漠沙蓬的地上部生物量和地下部生物量都呈线性正相关关系, 地上部生物量和根长都呈对数递增关系;与科尔沁沙地相比, 腾格里沙漠沙蓬的根长增加20％, 根冠比大33.3％, 显然降水分异导致了地区间沙蓬的生长可塑性。地统计学方法进一步分析表明, 腾格里沙漠沙蓬植株因土壤湿度产生的空间异质性是地上部生物量小于根长但大于根重, 说明干旱逆境时沙蓬生长可塑性变化趋势的顺序依次是根长>地上部生物量>地下部生物量, 沙蓬这种生长可塑性特点是其对干旱生境的适应。     

云南元谋干热河谷造林区植被生长与土壤渗透性的关系

通过云南元谋干热河谷造林区林分生物量及生产力指标与双环入渗试验的土壤入渗性能指标的相关分析，发现乔木生长与土壤渗透性具有显著正相关关系(P＜0.01)，地表枯枝落叶量与土壤渗透性的相关关系也较密切(P＜0.05)，而灌草生长与土壤渗透性无显著相关。研究指出，改善土壤入渗性能的措施，如沿等高线开深沟种植、禁止放牧践踏、保护地表枯枝落叶等均对林木生长有积极的影响。     

Isotope composition and anion chemistry of soil profiles along the Kalahari Transect

Savannas cover about 20% of the Earth's land area across a wide range of climatic conditions. As an important and distinct biome, savannas produce approximately 29% of global terrestrial net primary productivity. In these ecosystems the distribution of belowground resources remains poorly investigated and the relationship to the climatic conditions remains unclear. In the present study, vertical profiles of soil nutrients (chloride, nitrate, phosphate and sulfate) and nitrogen stable isotopes were analyzed at four sites along the Kalahari mega-transect, where a distinct rainfall gradient exists on a homogeneous soil substrate. The results show clear differences in nutrients and δ¹⁵N vertical distributions between wet and dry seasons. The results also show how the formation of “fertility islands” (i.e., the concentration of soil nutrients in the soils beneath tree canopies) is not necessarily coupled with belowground processes in that the distribution of soil nutrients at the surface does not match belowground patterns. The results also indicate that phosphorus may be a limiting nutrient in these savanna ecosystems with seasonal dynamics in its cycling.     

古尔班通古特沙漠草本植物生物量分配特征

草本植物层片是古尔班通古特沙漠早春生产力的主要贡献者,为深入了解荒漠草本植物在群落水平上对荒漠环境的整体适应性,分析了沙漠中部1 hm2样地中草本植物层片地上与地下生物量分配关系,并验证了草本植物层片生物量与根冠比、物种丰富度以及植株密度之间的关系.结果 表明:(1)类短命植物囊果苔草(Carex physodes)是...     

Biomass and water partitioning in two age-related Caragana korshinskii plantations in desert steppe, northern China

Understanding of biomass and water allocation in plant populations will provide useful information on their growth pattern and resource allocation dynamics. By direct measurement, the biomass and water...     

准噶尔荒漠小山蒜的形态与生物量特征及其相互关系

小山蒜(Allium pallasii)是中国新疆特有的类短命植物。调查了准噶尔荒漠16个20 m×20 m样地内小山蒜种群的分布概况,研究了小山蒜盛花期的生物学特征、器官生物量分配及其相互关系。结果表明:①小山蒜多生于沙丘中下部,密度为0.187株·m–2;平均株高为(22.93±5.15)cm,多为3片叶;花序近球形,平均半径(2.44±0.37)cm,纵断面角度211.39°±60.4°,表面积和体积分别为(50.95±34.19)cm2和(43.37±29.45)cm3。②其形态指标(平均叶长、4个花球指标及鳞茎直径)间、生物量指标(根生物量除外)间,及二者之间多为显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)正相关,协同生长关系较强。③小山蒜生物量分配呈鳞茎>花葶>花球>叶片>根的格局,根冠比为0.873,生殖分配占49.66%。④形态指标与生物量间均呈α<1的异速生长关系,而生物量指标间多为等速关系,其中地上、地下生物量间符合α=3/4的异速关系。⑤生物量估测表明,小山蒜单株地上生物量平均为0.312 g,单株地下生物量平均为0.264 g,种群总生物量密度仅为0.106 g·m-2,其生物量在整个荒漠生态系统中可忽略不计,但它作为准噶尔荒漠重要而独特的种质资源,应从多个方面深入研究,同时进行适当保护。     

黑河中游荒漠绿洲过渡带固沙植被根区土壤含水量

土壤水分在很大程度上决定着荒漠固沙植被的生长状况和分布格局,不同植被对土壤水分的需求也不相同,研究植被根区土壤含水量的分布特征,可为合理调控固沙植被空间分布格局提供理论依据。以黑河中游荒漠绿洲过渡带上的固沙植被泡泡刺（Nitraria sphaerocarp）、沙拐枣（Calligonum mongolicum）为对象,于2014—2018年每年5月上旬（雨季前）和10月中旬（雨季后）钻取植被根区不同深度的土壤样品,研究不同植被根区垂直方向和水平方向上土壤含水量的分布特征及其变异性。结果表明：（1）土层越深,固沙植被根区土壤含水量越高;（2）除2017年外,其余年份两种固沙植被根区的土壤含水量均是雨季后大于雨季前;（3）水平方向上距离植被根区越远,土壤含水量越高;（4）两种植被根区土壤含水量的变异性在垂直方向上浅层大于深层,且垂直方向的变异性大于水平方向。