Background concentrations of elements in surface soils and their changes as affected by agriculture use in the desert-oasis ecotone in the middle of Heihe River Basin,North-west China

The concentrations of twenty four chemical elements in the surface layer of natural desert soils and the cultivated farmland soils were measured at a desert-oasis ecotone in the middle of Heihe river basin, north-west China. Background values were estimated for (a) major elements (Si 335.3 g kg^− 1, Al 49.4 g kg^− 1, Fe 19.1 g kg^− 1, Ca 29.4 g kg^− 1, Mg 8.9 g kg^− 1, K 20.1 g kg^− 1, Na 17.5 g kg^− 1 and P 0.338 g kg^− 1), (b) heavy metals and non-metals (Cr 55.8 mg kg^− 1, Mn 404.8 mg kg^− 1, Ni 17.7 mg kg^− 1, Cu 5.1 mg kg^− 1, Zn 33.7 mg kg^− 1, Pb 15.5 mg kg^− 1 and As 5.2 mg kg^− 1) and (c) other trace elements (Ti 2.0 mg kg^− 1, V 55.3 mg kg^− 1, Co 5.7 mg kg^− 1, Rb 82.4 mg kg^− 1, Sr 232.9 mg kg^− 1, Y 14.7 mg kg^− 1, Zr 194.9 mg kg^− 1, Nb 7.8 mg kg^− 1 and Ba 720.6 mg kg^− 1). After natural desert soil was cultivated for agricultural use, significant changes in element concentrations occurred under tillage, irrigation and fertilisation management. Compared to natural soil, the for the levels of Si, K, Na, Sr, Zr and Ba decreased, and no changes were observed for Rb, while the values of the other 17 elements increase in agricultural soil from 1.2 to 3.5 times. However, their absolute concentrations are still low, suggesting that the arable soil in this region remains comparatively a clean soil. The increased silt, clay and organic carbon content, under long-term irrigation, enriched the fine-grained materials, and application of fertilisers and manure contributed to the accumulation of most elements in arable soil. The accumulation of elements in agricultural soil increased with increasing cultivation years and extent of soil development.     

Nest microhabitat selection in larks from a European semi-arid shrub-steppe: the role of sunlight and predation

We analysed nest site selection in two shrub-steppe larks, the lesser short-toed larkCalandrella rufescensand the Thekla larkGalerida theklae. Both species nest on the ground next to a bush preferably facing north or north-east. Nestling growth and fledging weight are greater when the nest faces these directions. Both species prefer to nest next to camephytes with little foliage, and the lesser short-toed lark chooses sites with high visibility. We conclude that sunlight and nest predation are fundamental selective pressures determining nest microhabitat selection in larks in semi-arid areas.     

坝上草原相关花粉源范围与相对花粉产量估算

基于坝上草原地区30个采样点表土花粉分析和植被调查的研究结果显示, 花粉组合以蒿属、藜科、禾本科、菊科和莎草科等草本植物为主, 基本能够反映草原植被特征, 但花粉百分比与其在植被中盖度差异明显。运用Extended R-Value(ERV)模型估算的坝上草原区相关花粉源范围大致为2100m, 当风速大于3.5m/s时, 基本稳定, 受风速影响不大。估算的相对花粉产量结果显示, 蒿属和藜科的相对花粉产量最高, 为禾本科的20倍左右; 其次为莎草科和菊科, 为禾本科的7~9倍; 百合科略高于禾本科; 旋花科、豆科、唇形科及委陵菜属的相对花粉产量则明显低于禾本科。利用相对花粉产量对花粉与植被关系的校正结果表明: 蒿属、藜科的校正效果明显, 其相对花粉产量可以作为定量重建古植被的参考; 莎草科、菊科、百合科和唇形科由于受植被和花粉数据梯度限制, 其相对花粉产量能否用于植被与花粉关系的校正有待通过更多植被群落调查进一步证实;其他花粉类型由于在花粉组合中含量多低于5 %, 所以在校正花粉与植被关系时的作用不明显。     

Effects of Enclosure on Plant and Soil Nutrients in Different Types of Alpine Grassland

Enclosure is one of the most widely used management tools for degraded alpine grassland on the northern Tibetan Plateau, but the responses of different types of grassland to enclosure may vary, and research on these responses can provide a scientific basis for improving ecological conservation. This study took one site for each of three grassland types (alpine meadow, alpine steppe and alpine desert) on the northern Tibetan Plateau as examples, and explored the effects of enclosure on plant and soil nutrients by comparing differences in plant community biomass, leaf-soil nutrient content and their stoichiometry between samples from inside and outside the fence. The results showed that enclosure can significantly increase all aboveground biomass in these three grassland types, but it only increased the 10-20 cm underground biomass in the alpine desert. Enclosure also significantly increased the leaf nutrient content of the dominant plants and contents of total nitrogen (N), total potassium (K), and organic carbon (C) in 10-20 cm soil in alpine desert, thus changing the stoichiometry between C, N and P (phosphorus). However, enclosure significantly increased only the N content of dominant plant leaves in alpine steppe, while other nutrients and stoichiometries of both plant leaves and soil did not show significant differences in alpine meadow and alpine steppe. These results suggested that enclosure has differential effects on these three types of alpine grasslands on the northern Tibetan Plateau, and the alpine desert showed the most active ecological conservation in the responses of its soil and plant nutrients.     

内蒙古荒漠草原沙生针茅(Stipa glareosa)、碱韭(Allium polyrhizum)和骆驼蓬(Peganum harmala)叶形态性状对土壤水氮耦合的响应

研究降水和氮沉降对荒漠草原植物叶形态性状的影响,对于预测未来全球变化下荒漠草原植物的生态适应具有重要意义.对增减雨(±50％)和氮添加(10 g·m-2.a-1)及其交互作用对乌拉特荒漠草原区优势植物叶形态性状的影响研究结果表明:(1)沙生针茅(Stipa glareosa)、碱韭(Allium polyrhizum)...     

退耕还林还草工程对中国北方农牧交错区土地利用/覆被变化的影响——以科尔沁左翼后旗为例

以北方农牧交错区-科尔沁左翼后旗为例,利用卫星遥感技术获取1980~2010年土地利用/覆被信息,通过统计模型重建土地利用/覆被及景观格局变化过程,综合评价二者动态及退耕还林还草等生态恢复工程的影响。研究区土地整体处于准平衡态势,各地类双向转换较频繁;耕地与草地的变化对区域土地利用/覆被及景观格局变化起支配作用;退耕还林还草等生态恢复工程逆转了天然植被(包括草地与林地)整体减少及耕地与未利用地增加的局面,使各景观破碎化程度有所缓解,这可能有利于生态环境的改善。     

北方农牧交错带少数民族语地名文化脆弱性评价体系构建与实证

北方农牧交错带濒危少数民族语地名规模不断增加,少数民族语地名文化脆弱性日益突出,可持续发展尤为堪忧。地名是由多要素构成的开放性文化系统。因此,如何从系统脆弱性角度将以往对濒危少数民族语地名的定性研究扩展至脆弱程度的定量研究具有一定的理论与现实意义。引入脆弱性研究范式,基于大量实地考察和文献梳理,从敏感性、暴露度及恢复力的视角识别北方农牧交错带少数民族语地名文化脆弱性影响因素,构建脆弱性评价体系,讨论评价尺度和评价方法,并针对典型案例地展开实证研究。结果表明：案例地少数民族语地名文化敏感性和暴露度突出,恢复力较弱,脆弱性较明显。其脆弱性受地名文化系统内损性和外部扰动性因素的共同影响。其中,地方居民对少数民族语地名语源语义的错误认知,较高的汉语普及率和汉译少数民族语地名社会认同度,以及少数民族语地名意译的非准确化是脆弱性形成的重要驱动因子。其次,汉译用字和译音的简化和非标准化,较高的地名合并、更改及弃用比,较少的地名文献储备量,以及少数民族语使用群体规模的大幅下降也是较为重要的单指标因素。     

1981—2018年内蒙古典型草原季节性冻土对气候变化的响应

以1981—2018年内蒙古典型草原季节性冻土为研究对象,通过气候倾向率、Mann-Kendall法、多元线性回归等方法,分析最大冻土时空分布特征、年际、年代际变化,研究影响最大冻土深度变化的气象因子。结果表明：（1） 内蒙古典型草原季节性冻土冻结初日在9—11月,终日在4—6月,年内最大冻土深度出现在2—3月,深度在100~280 cm之间。（2） 最大冻土深度年际变化分为下开口抛物线型、上开口抛物线型、正弦曲线型,从最大冻土深度气候倾向率看呈现减小趋势的站点有68%。（3） 最大冻土深度年代际变化分为逐年代递减、减-增型和无明显变化规律,50%的站点在1989年以后最大冻土深度发生突变。（4） 多元线性回归表明气温冻结指数、年平均风速、年极端最低气温对最大冻土深度产生显著影响。该研究揭示了最大冻土深度存在退化的事实,为草原应对气候变化提供指导,为陆地土壤和大气碳循环交换的研究给出提示。     

内蒙古荒漠-草原过渡带灌木群落特征

荒漠-草原过渡带是草原逐渐被荒漠取代的区域.沿阿拉善左旗-乌拉特后旗调查灌木群落,分析植物群落的结构和物种多样性,以期为生物多样性保育提供理论依据.结果表明:该荒漠-草原过渡带有62种植物,隶属于18科、47属,禾本科、藜科、豆科和菊科的植物较多.植物主要由灌木和多年生草本构成,以旱生植物为主,主要包括红砂(Reaum...     

不同经济水平牧户草场植被特征比较

以内蒙古荒漠草原家庭牧场为研究尺度,比较分析了不同经济水平牧户草场的植物群落特征,结果表明:主要植物种群的高度、盖度、密度、地上生物量、重要值及群落多样性指数均呈现出不同程度的趋同性.从社会学角度分析表明,牧区牧户的经济收入与饲养牲畜头数呈高度正相关.不同经济水平牧户草畜平衡的调整和适应能力不同,低经济水平牧户一般牲畜头数少,草场相对可使用面积大,经营意识薄弱,草场经常被有意或无意占用;中等经济水平牧户扩大饲养规模的愿望最为强烈,并积极通过围封、租借草场等方式来保护自家草场和扩大牲畜数量;高经济水平牧户则普遍采取常年租借草场、走场、购买饲草料等措施,减缓对自己草场放牧压力,同时保持畜饲养规模的维持和扩大.牧户存在调整适应行为,并会基于自己的“草畜平衡标准”,根据经济条件、草场面积、牲畜数量和对草场状况、放牧超载及效益的认知,适时通过草场流转和输入外部资源等方式,转移放牧压力,致使不同牧户草场生态状况趋于一致.