Late quaternary monsoon patterns on the Loess Plateau of China

China's Loess Plateau was formed under special conditions. The tectonic movement, topographical characteristics, and monsoon patterns combined to create a favourable environment for the accumulation of thick loessic deposits. The Loess Plateau itself is part of the ‘Monsoon Triangle’ of China, a region very susceptible to climatic changes. Throughout the Upper Pleistocene the palaeoenvironment on the Loess Plateau alternated from steppe, to deciduous forest and coniferous forest, in response to shifts in the atmospheric circulation. Three monsoon patterns appear to be indicated: (1) a full glacial monsoon pattern (18000–15000 yr BP) which induced a cold and dry climate favouring loess accumulation in steppe conditions; (2) an interglacial monsoon pattern (last interglacial and Holocene) in which a warm humid climate prevailed with deciduous forests, leaving palaeosols interbedded within the loess sequence; and (3) a transitional or interstadial monsoon pattern (50 000–23 000 yr BP) in which the climate was cold and humid in the Loess Plateau, encouraging the development of coniferous forest.     

Comparison of traditional wild plant knowledge between aboriginal communities inhabiting arid and forest environments in Patagonia, Argentina

The Mapuche people have a deeply rooted tradition of wild plant use for their subsistence. In this study we evaluated whether plant selection by the Mapuche is influenced by environmental constraints. Selection patterns of wild plant richness were compared in two Mapuche communities sharing the same traditions and beliefs but inhabiting different environments. Similarities and differences in the use patterns of wild medicinal and edible plants were quantitatively analyzed by using concepts derived from ecological theory. The Cayulef community is settled in the NW Patagonian (herbaceous) steppe while the Curruhuinca community is established near the Andean temperate forest, 100 km away from each other. Free-listing and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 families in Cayulef and 39 in Curruhuinca corresponding to 80% and 40% of each population, respectively. Data were analyzed by means of the Jaccard similarity index and statistical tests. The main results of this study showed that the home environment is a determinant factor that influences which plant species are utilized, as is the anthropic environment (with its high exotic species richness) in each community. However, similar patterns were found with respect to plant families, ways of utilization, plant parts and life forms utilized irrespective of where the communities are settled. In addition, in both populations, wild plant richness was significantly higher for medicinal than for edible species. Our results showed that the use of wild plants is primarily based on the utilization of species belonging to the nearest ecological environments that have both therapeutic and dietary functions.     

30多年来呼伦贝尔草原沙漠化的演变特点及防治对策研究

采用遥感技术与野外调查相结合的方法,通过3个典型小区对呼伦贝尔草原30多年来的沙漠化演变特点进行了系统研究。结果表明:该区的樟子松林区发生着强烈的沙漠化逆转,许多地段已转变为非沙漠化土地;其它地区除部分地段由于人类的积极治理而发生沙漠化逆转外,仍处于不断发展的过程中。因此,对于樟子松天然分布区,可充分利用樟子松的优良防风固沙特性和较强的扩展能力来防治沙漠化,而对其它地区则应以封育为主,加强人工抚育和草原建设。     

呼伦贝尔草原沙漠化现状、发展态势与成因分析

呼伦贝尔草原是我国优质的天然牧场和重要的畜牧业生产基地。近年来,该草原中的砂质草场已大面积发生沙漠化。通过实地调查研究,并结合遥感资料和前人研究成果,本文在分析了呼伦贝尔草原沙漠化现状和发展态势的基础上,着重从地质环境变化和人类活动两个方面探讨了该区沙漠化的成因。认为沙漠化的发展是自然因素与人为因素共同作用的结果,地质环境因素是形成沙漠化的基础,地表的土壤和植被是草原良好的保护层,人类对草原的破坏是导致沙漠化的直接原因。最后,对沙漠化的防治提出了3点建议。     

内蒙古扎鲁特旗土地利用方式及强度对草原群落的影响

内蒙古扎鲁特旗位于北方农牧交错带区域，近期对其草原植被的调查分析表明：人类不合理的土地利用方式及过大的土地利用强度对该地草原植被造成严重影响，草原面积缩小、植被退化严重，草场质量下降。人口激增引发的土地利用方式由牧向农的转化（垦草为粮）以及草地利用强度的加大（超载过牧）是造成该区草原植被退化的主要原因。改变土地利用方式、围栏禁牧是实现退化草原植被恢复演替的有效措施。     

中国锡林郭勒草原沙漠化的沙源及其地质学成因

从沉积学的角度分析了锡林郭勒草原沙漠化的地质背景和沙源。锡林郭勒草原直接覆盖在早白垩世二连盆地之上。该盆地各凹陷演化的生命周期完整,同沉积期构造演化结束于基底沉降减缓阶段末,而沉积充填演化结束于湖泊萎缩-平原化阶段,随后一直处于缓慢隆升状态。这样的盆地演化史,导致充填序列上部广泛发育了湖退体系域——厚度巨大且固结程度极低的河流-三角洲砂体。人为因素和气象因素破坏了草原植被,使这些规模巨大的砂体露出地表,造成草原沙漠化基础。显然,地质环境的脆弱性是生态环境脆弱性的决定因素。因此从某种意义上说,锡林郭勒草原沙漠化也是一种地质灾害。如果不进行有效的治理,将会出现大规模沙漠化。这种类型的沙漠化在中国华北、西北和东北乃至世界各地具有普遍性。     

Full-glacial paleosols in perennially frozen loess sequences, Klondike goldfields, Yukon Territory, Canada

Perennially frozen loess deposits in the Klondike goldfields include paleosols formed in full-glacial environments, correlated by Alaskan distal tephra with Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 2 and 4. Patterns of organic and inorganic carbon and clay distribution, microstructures, and profile morphologies indicate that soil formation occurred in a base-rich environment in which organic matter accreted predominantly as root detritus. At sites approximately 20 km apart, the expression of cryoturbation and ice wedge development decreases in strength upward in loess-paleosol sequences correlated with MIS 4, suggesting increasing aridity. Configurations of cryoturbation features and ice-wedge thaw unconformities, the presence of numerous ground squirrel burrows, and an absence of peat accumulation suggest that these substrates were predominantly well-drained, with active layers of equal or greater thickness than in modern soils on similar sites in the west-central Yukon. Some characteristics of these paleosols are similar to those of modern steppe and tundra soils, consistent with plant macrofossil evidence for local ecological diversity during full-glacial conditions in eastern Beringia.     

Ecological stability during the LGM and the mid-Holocene in the Alpine Steppes of Tibet?

Arid and Alpine ecosystems are known for extreme environmental changes during the Late Quaternary. We hypothesize that the world's largest Alpine arid ecosystem however, the Alpine Steppes of the Tibetan highlands, remained ecologically stable during the LGM and the mid-Holocene. This hypothesis is tested by distributional range of plant species, plant life forms and rate of endemism. The set of character species has a precipitation gradient between 50 and 350 mm/a, testifying for resilience to precipitation changes. 83% of the species have a wider vertical range than 1000 m used as a proxy for resilience to temperature changes. 30% of the species are endemic with 10 endemic genera, including plate-shaped cushions as a unique plant life form. These findings are in line with palaeo-ecological proxies (δ¹⁸O, pollen) allowing the assumption that Alpine Steppes persisted during the LGM with 3 to 4 K lower summer temperatures.During the mid-Holocene, forests could have replaced Alpine Steppes in the upper catchments of the Huang He, Yangtze, Mekong, Salween and Yarlung Zhangbo, but not in the interior basins of the north-western highlands, because the basins were then flooded, suppressing forests and supporting the environmental stability of this arid Alpine grassland biome.     

松嫩草地40余年气温、降水变化及其若干影响研究

分析了松嫩草地４０余年气温、降水的变化,评估了这些变化对土壤水分及草地生产力的影响。继而根据大气环流模式ＣＯ２倍增“平衡试验”结果评估了未来大气ＣＯ２加倍条件下降水、气温的变化对松嫩草地土壤水分及草地生产力可能产生的影响。     

呼伦贝尔草原沙漠化土地的综合整治区划

呼伦贝尔草原的沙漠化土地现在多处于由级向级发展的阶段,有很大的发展潜力和危险性,必须对其进行综合整治。其主要成因是过度放牧,过度放牧不仅直接使砂质草原发生沙漠化,而且还严重影响天然樟子松的天然更新和扩展,因此必须对放牧进行科学的规划和管理。作者遵循地带性和非地带性相结合原则、发生学原则、主导性原则、与已有的相关区划相统一原则,把呼伦贝尔草原划分为2个综合整治亚区和5个综合整治小区,并提出了相应的综合整治对策。