Water transport and tracer mixing in volcanic ash soils at a tropical hillslope: A wet layered sloping sponge

Andosol soils formed in volcanic ash provide key hydrological services in montane environments. To unravel the subsurface water transport and tracer mixing in these soils we conducted a detailed characterization of soil properties and analyzed a 3-year data set of sub-hourly hydrometric and weekly stable isotope data collected at three locations along a steep hillslope. A weakly developed (52–61 cm depth), highly organic andic (Ah) horizon overlaying a mineral (C) horizon was identified, both showing relatively similar properties and subsurface flow dynamics along the hillslope. Soil moisture observations in the Ah horizon showed a fast responding (few hours) “rooted” layer to a depth of 15 cm, overlying a “perched” layer that remained near saturated year-round. The formation of the latter results from the high organic matter (33–42%) and clay (29–31%) content of the Ah horizon and an abrupt hydraulic conductivity reduction in this layer with respect to the rooted layer above. Isotopic signatures revealed that water resides within this soil horizon for short periods, both at the rooted (2 weeks) and perched (4 weeks) layer. A fast soil moisture reaction during rainfall events was also observed in the C horizon, with response times similar to those in the rooted layer. These results indicate that despite the perched layer, which helps sustain the water storage of the soil, a fast vertical mobilization of water through the entire soil profile occurs during rainfall events. The latter being the result of the fast transmissivity of hydraulic potentials through the porous matrix of the Andosols, as evidenced by the exponential shape of the water retention curves of the subsequent horizons. These findings demonstrate that the hydrological behavior of volcanic ash soils resembles that of a “layered sponge,” in which vertical flow paths dominate.     

青藏高原东南缘高山湖泊藻类响应气候变化和大气沉降的长期特征

高山湖泊远离人类活动直接影响,通常具有面积小、寡营养、食物网单一等特点,对气候变化和营养输入具有较高的敏感性。我国青藏高原东南缘地区氮沉降通量较高、增温幅度显著,已有研究显示该地区可能受湖泊类型、流域特征等影响存在差异性的湖泊响应模式。本研究选择该区域位于树线以下、具有不同水深的3个小型湖泊(盖公错纳、沃迪错、碧沽天池)开展沉积物调查和对比研究,通过钻孔样品测年、理化特征和藻类(硅藻群落、藻类色素)等多指标分析,结合区域气候定量重建和氮沉降等数据收集,评价了过去300年来藻类演替模式的异同特征及湖泊水深的调节作用。结果显示,3个湖泊中硅藻的优势物种与群落组成差异明显。深水型湖泊盖公错纳(最大水深39.4 m)的硅藻群落以浮游种为主(占比达82%),优势种为眼斑小环藻(Pantocsekiolla ocellata)、科曼小环藻(Pantocsekiella comensis);深水型湖泊沃迪错(最大水深20.7 m)的硅藻群落中浮游种和底栖种约各占50%,优势种为眼斑小环藻(Pantocsekiella ocellata)、连结脆杆藻(Saurosira construens);浅水湖...     

高寒退化草地中垫状点地梅的生态系统工程师作用

垫状植物是高寒地区广泛分布的一类具有特殊形态的植物,被称为高寒生态系统工程师,其在高寒退化草地中的作用如何?本研究以位于西藏当雄念青唐古拉山脉南坡4500m的一处高寒退化草地为例,调查了垫状点地梅覆盖区域内外的物种多样性、土壤养分以及水分的差异。结果表明:垫状点地梅可以显著改善土壤养分,提高幅度大约为16%-48%,其中有机质和总氮(N)分别增加了16.2%和18.9%;局部土壤含水量提高约12%;样方内的物种丰富度(S)、Shannon-Wiener指数(H)和Simpson指数(D)都随着垫状点地梅盖度的增加而呈增加的趋势。垫状点地梅在退化草地中具有显著的改善土壤微环境和提高群落物种多样性的作用,应加强保育以促进高寒退化草地的恢复。     

基于DEM-NDVI的高山植被带定量刻划

根据不同高山植被类型具有不同归一化植被指数响应的特点,通过对NDVI的分析来定量刻划高山植被带的海拔分布。首先,利用DEM、NDVI构建DEM-NDVI散点分布图;然后,结合地面调查资料与WorldView-2高分遥感影像对DEM-NDVI散点分布图进行统计回归分析;最后,利用分析结果定量刻划高山植被垂直分带结构。将该方法应用于四川卧龙大熊猫保护区的卧龙关沟,结果表明：① NDVI随海拔升高而呈“Z”字形变化;② DEM-NDVI散点图比样本点DEM-NDVI分布图能更完全地表达高山植被NDVI随高程变化的特征;③ 卧龙关沟东北坡高山植被带海拔高度为3255~4415 m,西南坡高山植被带海拔高度为3193~4473 m,与地面调查得到的区域代表植被的分布高度基本一致。     

21世纪以来青藏高寒草地的变化特征及其对气候的响应

利用遥感数据和气象观测资料探索气候因子对区域植被变化的驱动作用具有重要意义。以1980-2012年气象数据和2000-2012年MODIS-NDVI数据为数据源,借助线性回归和相关分析分别分析了青海和西藏两个地区21世纪以来气候变化对青藏高寒草地的影响机制。结果表明：（1）1980-2012年,青海和西藏地区均呈暖湿化的发展趋势。但21世纪以来,西藏地区降水呈不显著的减少趋势;整个青藏高原中部和西部地区增温趋势明显（>0.05 ℃·a-1）。（2）在年际尺度（2000- 2012年）上,青海地区NDVI呈显著增加的趋势,增长率为0.003·a-1（P<0.05）;西藏地区NDVI无变化趋势,区域尺度统计中植被退化与改善相互抵消。在空间上,青藏高原东北部地区NDVI呈良性趋势,部分区域增长斜率超过0.01·a-1。青藏高原南部地区NDVI呈变差趋势,变化斜率为0.008·a-1。（3）区域上的相关分析显示,在青海地区,降水量的增加和温度的升高共同促进了该区域植被的良性发展趋势;在西藏地区,降水量的减少和温度的升高可能是南部地区植被变差的重要原因。     

Variations of the alpine precipitation from an ice core record of the Laohugou glacier basin during 1960-2006 in western Qilian Mountains,China

The net accumulation record of ice core is one of the most reliable indicators for reconstructing precipitation changes in high mountains. A 20.12 m ice core was drilled in 2006 from the accumulation zone of Laohugou Glacier No.12 in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China. We obtained the precipitation from the ice core net accumulation during 1960-2006, and found out the relationship between Laohugou ice core record and other data from surrounding sites of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Results showed that during 1960-2006, the precipitation in the high mountains showed firstly an increasing trend, while during 1980 to 2006 it showed an obvious decreasing trend. Reconstructed precipitation change in the Laohugou glacier basin was consistent with the measured data from the nearby weather stations in the lower mountain of Subei, and the correlation coefficient was 0.619 (P<0.001). However, the precipitation in the high mountain was about 3 times more than that of the lower mountain. The precipitation in Laohugou Glacier No.12 of the western Qilian Mountains corresponded well to the net accumulation of Dunde ice core during the same period, tree-ring reconstructed precipitation, the measured data of multiple meteorological stations in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, and also the changes of adjacent PDSI drought index. Precipitation changes of the Laohugou glacier basin and other sites of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau had significantly positive correlation with ENSO, which implied that the regional alpine precipitation change was very likely to be influenced by ENSO.     

多年冻土区活动层土壤水分对不同高寒生态系统的响应

土地覆被变化对土壤水分的影响是生态水文学和流域水文学研究的关键问题,基于长江源典型多年冻土区不同高寒草地土壤水分的观测,结合降水、生物量（包括地上和地下）和土壤理化性质,研究了活动层土壤水分变化对不同高寒生态系统的响应. 结果表明：高寒草甸生物量、土壤养分含量均比高寒草原高,且对降水响应更为强烈,致使高寒草甸土壤水分变异性弱于高寒草原. 在土壤完全融化阶段,高寒草甸土壤活动层存在一个低含水层（50 cm左右）和两个相对高含水层（20 cm和120 cm）,但高寒草原土壤水分在活动层剖面上有随深度逐渐增大的一致性趋势;在秋季冻结过程中,高寒草甸土冻结起始日滞后于高寒草原土3~15 d;在春季融化阶段,高寒草原土更高的含冰量需要更多的融化潜热. 此外,表层土壤中（0~20 cm）,高寒草甸土比高寒草原土有更大的持水特性,而在活动层中下部则呈现完全相反的结果,不同高寒生态系统的演替改变了土壤的水热迁移过程.     

Variations in soil properties and their effect on subsurface biomass distribution in four alpine meadows of the hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau of China

To understand and predict the role of soils in changes in alpine meadow ecosystems during climate warming, soil monoliths, extending from the surface to the deepest roots, were collected from Carex moorcroftii, Kobresia humilis, mixed grass, and Kobresia pygmaea alpine meadows in the hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau, China. The monoliths were used to measure the distribution with depth of biomass, soil grain size, soil nutrient levels, and soil moisture. With the exception of the K. pygmaea meadow, the percentages of gravel and coarse sand in the soils were high, ranging from 37.7 to 57.8% for gravel, and from 18.7 to 27.9% for coarse sand. The texture was finest in the upper 10 cm soil layer, and generally became coarser with increasing depth. Soil nutrients were concentrated in the top 15 cm soil layer, especially in the top 10 cm. Soil water content was low, ranging from 3 to 28.4%. Most of the subsurface biomass was in the top 10 cm, with concentrations of 79.8% in the K. humilis meadow, 77.6% in the mixed grass meadow, and 62.3% in the C. moorcroftii meadow. Owing to deeper root penetration, the concentration of subsurface biomass in the upper 10 cm of K. pygmaea soil was only 41.7%. The subsurface biomass content decreased exponentially with depth; this is attributed to the increase in grain size and decrease in soil nutrient levels with depth. Soil water is not a primary factor influencing the vertical and spatial distribution of subsurface biomass in the study area. The lack of fine material and of soil nutrients resulted in low surficial and subsurface biomass everywhere.     

A new species of Zelandobius (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae: Antarctoperlinae) from the upper Rangitata River,Canterbury, New Zealand

Zelandobius edensis n. sp. is described from a spring‐fed creek in the headwaters of the Rangitata River catchment, South Canterbury, New Zealand. Adult males exhibit varying degrees of brachyptery and the only female collected also had short wings. Larvae are easily identified by their covering of long translucent hairs not found in other members of the Zelandobius confusus‐group. The link between adult and nymph was confirmed by comparing 600‐base‐pair sequences of the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase 1. Observations suggest the life cycle may be strongly synchronised by temperature constraints on nymphal growth and development, and/or a short season suitable for feeding and reproduction by the terrestrial adults.     

2009/2010年黄河源区高寒草甸下垫面能量平衡特征分析

以青藏高原黄河源玛多为实验区, 基于TRM-ZS1气象生态环境监测仪2009年11月1日至2010年10月31日辐射及能量通量观测数据, 采用波文比能量平衡法, 进行了该区域潜热和感热通量的估算, 分析了黄河源区高寒草甸下垫面辐射收支, 潜热、 感热和土壤热通量在不同季节的分配, 对该区域冬季地面加热场强度的变化进行了研究.结果表明: 该区域总辐射、 净辐射较强, 总辐射平均日积分值为18.06 MJ·m^-2·d^-1, 净辐射平均日积分值5.95 MJ·m^-2·d^-1, 曾观测到高达979.5 W·m^-2的净辐射通量.全年地表平均反射率为0.30, 接近于荒漠和半荒漠下垫面的反射率.植物生长季土壤湿度和冬、 春季地面积雪是影响该区域地表反射率的两个最主要因素.该区域感热通量年积分值为742.68 MJ·m^-2·a^-1, 潜热通量年积分值为1 388.58 MJ·m²·a^-1, 全年中地表以潜热方式传递热量为主.分季节分析, 冬季感热潜热强度相当, 春季以感热为主, 夏秋季则以潜热为主.土壤热通量年积分值为38.06 MJ·m^-2·a^-1, 全年热通量在热量平衡中约占1.8%, 但季节分配不平衡, 在冬季, 有|G|>H+LE, 土壤热通量是热平衡最大的分量.该区域地表全年向大气释放热量, 地表对大气而言是热源.