Modelling the sustainability and productivity of pastoral systems in the communal areas of Namaqualand

We investigated the effects of rainfall and the number of animals on changes in vegetation and on the output of milk and meat from the communal areas of Namaqualand. Previously published short- and long-term models link processes that range from the levels of tissue (in, for example, the mammary gland), to the milk yields of individual animals, to the growth and survival of their young and to long-term changes in plant species populations at the ecosystem level. These models have been used to study how different factors and management strategies affect livestock productivity and vegetation composition on a 20,000 ha rangeland in Namaqualand. First, the inter-relations between rainfall, stocking rate and productivity were studied using the short-term model. This model shows that in addition to total rainfall and stocking rate, the timing of rainfall within a year also influences doe live weight and survival to the end of the year. When the long-term model is run, using recorded rainfall, predictions of small stock numbers agree closely with livestock data recorded over the same 30-year period. One thousand replicates of 100-year runs of the long-term model were then used to study the probable impact of different upper limits to stock numbers on animal performance. Off take (sales and slaughterings) are maximal when stock numbers are limited to 2000 adults. Animal numbers increase marginally as the limit is increased above this level, but the variability between years in numbers increases. Secondly, the long-term model was used to study the long-term effects of the stocking rate strategies on rangeland condition. The model predicts that although these effects are variable, when moderately degraded range is stocked with an upper limit at the recommended level it is unable to recover to less degraded states over 100 years. Thirdly, the model was used to examine the effects of reduction in stock numbers and slaughtering of kids in a drought year on goat numbers during the subsequent 5 years. Finally, the model predicts that a 10% reduction in mean annual rainfall will lead to a 35% reduction in animal numbers over 200 years.     

森林地下碳分配(TBCA)研究进展

森林地下碳分配(TBCA)是森林碳循环的重要通量,对森林碳吸存有十分重要作用.TBCA是森林生态系统GPP中一个最大的汇,可占GPP的21%～61%,土壤呼吸的2/3来自TBCA.目前国际上常用的TBCA测定方法为碳平衡法,在假定地下碳库处于稳定状态时,TB-CA可由土壤呼吸减去凋落物量获得,但该方法存在一系列问题.影响森林TBCA的因素有生产力、森林类型、树龄和森林演替阶段、土壤养分和水分有效性、林分密度和树种组成、气候变化因素等.TBCA中各个组成部分均较难以测定和量化,通常假定TBCA中根系呼吸与根系生产力各约占50%,而TBCA中菌根菌和根系分泌物的贡献则仍不清楚.有关TBCA各组分去向及影响机理的研究亦很少.TBCA未来的研究应致力于揭示TBCA的根本驱动因子和其对全球变化的响应机理,以及TBCA转化为土壤新碳的效率及控制因素;同时应提高TBCA测定方法的确定性,特别是应将碳同位素法、微根管法及碳平衡法三者相结合.     

Characteristics of seasonal and spatial variations of primary production over the southeastern Bering Sea shelf

In situ primary production data collected during 1978–1981 period and 1997–2000 period were combined to improve understanding of seasonal and spatial distribution of primary production in the southeastern Bering Sea. Mean daily primary production rates showed an apparent seasonal cycle with high rates in May and low rates in summer over the entire shelf of the southeastern Bering Sea except for oceanic region due to lack of data. There was also an increasing trend of primary production rates in the fall over the inner shelf and the middle shelf. There was a decreasing trend of primary production rates between late April and mid-May over the inner shelf while there was an abrupt increase between late April and mid-May over the middle shelf and the outer shelf. In the shelf break region, there was an increasing pattern in late May. These suggest that there was a gradual progression of the development of the spring phytoplankton bloom from the inner shelf toward the shelf break region. There was also a latitudinal variability of primary production rate over the middle shelf, probably due to either spatial variations of the seasonal advance and retreat of sea ice or horizontal advection of saline water in the bottom layer. Annual rates of primary production across the southeastern Bering Sea shelf were 121, 150, 145, 110, and 84 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in the inner shelf, the middle shelf, the outer shelf, the shelf break, and oceanic region, respectively. High annual rates of primary production over the inner shelf can be attributed to continuous summer production based on regenerated nitrogen and/or a continuous supply of nitrogen at the inner front region, and to fall production. There were some possibilities of underestimation of annual primary production over the entire shelf due to lack of measurement in early spring and fall, which may be more apparent over the shelf break and oceanic region than the inner shelf, the middle, and the outer shelf. This study suggests that the response of primary production by climate change in the southeastern Bering Sea shelf can be misunderstood without proper temporal and seasonal measurement.     

Entropy‐based equation to assess hillslope sediment production

A new equation to assess hillslope sediment production, based on physical and probabilistic approaches, is presented. The equation, which allows the computation of the delivery ratio for every event, considers the physical variables of travel distance, stream power, settling velocity and gross erosion. The probability density function that arises from the new formulation is solved using the principle of maximum entropy. Based on data from five watersheds in both tropical and temperate zones, the new delivery parameter K_v is calibrated and associated with vegetation cover and conservation practice. The proposed equation is rationally based in relation to parameter K_v. The entropy‐based equation was applied to assess sediment yield in two other experimental watersheds, showing good predictability for the set (mean absolute error of 20·8%). No systematic error was found in the analysed data. The entropy‐based equation showed good predictability for long‐term sets of data and for high‐erosivity events, but did not perform well for the low‐erosivity ones. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pelagic production and respiration in the Gulf of Papua during May 2004

The metabolic balance between production and respiration in plankton communities of the Gulf of Papua was investigated in May 2004. Water samples taken at 19 stations were allocated to groups on the basis of physico-chemical characteristics. Oxygen consumption and production in flasks incubated in the dark and in the light was determined by micro-Winkler titration. Dark bottle respiration in samples influenced by the estuarine plume averaged 3.09±1.92 (SD) mmol O₂ m⁻³ d⁻¹ and production within surface light bottles averaged 7.63±3.36 (SD)  mmol O₂ m⁻³ d⁻¹. Corresponding values in stations more typical of the central Gulf of Papua were 1.68±1.30 (SD) mmol O₂ m⁻³ d⁻¹ and 1.08±2.25 (SD) mmol O₂ m⁻³ d⁻¹. Despite a shallow (<10 m) euphotic zone within the plume stations, phytoplankton production in the surface layers was sufficiently high to subsidise total water column respiration. Integrating production and respiration over the water column resulted in a calculation of net community production (NCP) of 626±504 (SD) mg C m⁻² d⁻¹, and community respiration (CR) of 712±492 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹ at the plume stations, with an average P:R ratio of 1.97. In the offshore group NCP was 157±450 (SD) mg C m⁻² d⁻¹ and CR was 1620±1576 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹. The average P:R ratio was 1.27. Three of the 7 stations allocated to the offshore group were net heterotrophic. In contrast to earlier studies in the area indicating that the Gulf of Papua waters is heterotrophic [Robertson, A.I., Dixon, P., Alongi, D.M., 1998. The influence of fluvial discharge on pelagic production in the Gulf of Papua, Northern Coral Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 46, 319–331], our data indicate that in May 2004 the Gulf was in positive metabolic balance, but by only ∼120 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹. We conclude that waters of the Gulf of Papua under riverine influence are net autotrophic, but that within the central Gulf there is a fine metabolic balance alternating between autotrophy and heterotrophy.     

Large-scale impacts of bottom trawling on shelf primary productivity

Disturbance of the seabed resulting from bottom trawling affects ecosystem processes, such as the rate and magnitude of nutrient regeneration. The potential responses of the plankton community arising from such effects can be modelled, provided that reliable data on the effects on nutrient fluxes are available. In a north Cretan outer continental shelf and upper slope fishing ground (Heraklion Bay, Crete, Eastern Mediterranean) we applied a new field instrument which can simulate the passage of trawl groundropes across the sea floor and made direct seasonal measurements of the rate of dissolved and particulate nutrient releases resulting from seabed disturbance. These observational data were then integrated in a 3D ecosystem model. Results revealed that bottom trawling may trigger off considerable productivity pulses, in addition to pulses from the natural seasonal cycle.     

休耕水稻田蓄水对土壤肥力影响试验

主要探讨水稻田休耕期间蓄水对休耕后土壤肥力之影响。选择两块水稻田区,在水稻收割后,将田区翻耕一次。一田区以人工连续灌溉,蓄存水量于田区;另一田区则为天然蓄水。在每一田区四边及中央处,以10cm为一层采取土样,取至60cm。再将每一层土样气干后,通过0.42mm筛网土样混合,分析田区同一层在不同时段与不同深度下之pH值、电导度值、有机质、全氮、有效磷、钙离子、镁离子、钾离子及钠离子之变化。试验结果显示:休耕后水稻根系腐化,造成土壤有机质以及有效磷显著的增加。蓄水后天然蓄水田区有机质和有效磷分别增加51%及88%,连续蓄水田区分别增加13%和69%。而天然蓄水田区镁、钾、钠分别降低35%、24%和47%,连续蓄水田区分别降低29%、14%及41%。     

水稻水分生产函数时空变异规律研究

基于对水稻Jensen模型中敏感指数在全生育期变化规律的认识,以生长曲线函数建立了水稻敏感指数累积函数,分析了其特征,从而解决了不同长时段敏感指数转换计算问题。较全面地揭示了水稻水分生产函数及其敏感指数累积函数中主要参数随气象条件及土壤因子变化的规律。通过参照作物需水量及其频率以及不同地区土壤有效含水量为媒介,建立了对水分敏感指标在不同水文年份 (时间)和不同地区 (空间)进行预报的数学模型,据此提出了水稻水分生产函数在时、空两方面插补、延长、移用与扩展的理论与方法。借助于参照作物需水量等值线图及土壤分布图,探讨了绘制水分生产函数及其主要参数等值线图的原理和方法。     

水稻时域散射特征分析及其应用研究

通过对肇庆试验区1996年和1997年获取的多时相、多模式雷达卫星（RADARSAT）数据分析，从图像上直接提取地物的后向散射系数，结合实地测量水稻的生长结构参数，建立了水稻生长模型，分析了不同生长周期（从80天到120－125天）4种类型水稻的时域散射特性。利用1997年4月至7月获取的7景标准模式雷达卫星数据，对试验区内三个县和两个行政区共5000km^2面积范围内的作物进行分类和水稻产量预估算，水稻类型分类及面积量算精度达91％。结果表明：利用雷达遥感数据进行水稻种植面积量算和估产需要水稻生长期间三个时相的数据，即插秧期、抽穗期、收割前期。若能够获得多参数雷达图像，可以用插秧期和收割前期的两个时相图像来代替上述的三个时相图像同样可以达到种植面积量算和估产的效果。这一结果充分说明多时相雷达卫星数据对我国南方水稻长势监测及估产具有明显优势和潜力。     

Ozone Production Efficiency in Savanna and Forested Areas during the EXPRESSO Experiment

NO, NO_x, NO_y and O₃ have been measuredduring the airborne EXPRESSO experiment, November 96,which took place near Bangui (Central Africa) at thebeginning of the dry season. This period correspondsto an intense burning activity. Chemical andphotochemical characteristics of the planetaryboundary layer, which corresponds most of the time tothe monsoon layer, and the Harmattan layer, which issituated above the latter, have been studied forsavanna as well as rain forest areas. These two layersare very different when considering the chemicalcomposition (especially for ozone and NO_z) andthe photochemical age.The relationship of photochemical ozone productionversus photochemical NO_x oxidation products hasbeen investigated. Results indicate an ozoneproduction efficiency (OPE) ranging from 6.3 to 14.8in the planetary boundary layer. Thus, this layer ischaracteristic of a photochemically young and activeair mass. In this layer, the ozone potentialproduction increases with the air mass photochemicalage. On the other hand, the Harmattan layer shows anOPE ranging from 4.6 to 7.4. These values arecharacteristic of photochemically well-aged airmasses. In this layer, the ozone potential productionseems to be exhausted with values around 4.0 (i.e., 4ozone molecules produced for each NO_x moleculeemitted).