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.     

Small-scale vegetation dynamics in semi-arid steppe in Inner Mongolia

Small-scale vegetation dynamics were followed for ecotones and in uniform stands inArtemisia-dominated steppe vegetation under grazing and when recovering from heavy grazing. Species composition was followed annually for 5 years in 1 m²and 0·25 m²plots for (1) presence–absence; (2) density; and (3) biomass.More rapid vegetation dynamics, in terms of change of type of vegetation and distance moved in DCA species space between sampling occasions, were observed in smaller plots and in early seral stages, where species were few and alpha diversity low. Only the plots recently protected from grazing showed a directional vegetation change; those protected for more than 3 years and those under continued grazing showed, at this scale, non-directional dynamics.     

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)...     

藏北高山嵩草草旬植被和多样性在沙漠化过程中的变化

为确定沙漠化对高山嵩草草甸植被组成、结构和物种多样性的影响，了解高寒区草甸沙漠化的原因，选择西藏那曲安多县南部沙漠化严重区域为调查区，按照沙漠化的不同程度设置样地，系统调查了轻度、中度、重度和极重度沙化草甸的植被变化，结果表明：中度、重度和极重度沙化区的植被与轻度沙化草甸有显著的差异；在中度和重度沙化区，高寒草甸的建群种高山嵩草已被家畜不喜食或更具抗性的植物种所取代，而在极重度沙化的流动沙丘上无植被生长；从过牧的退化草甸到半流动、流动沙丘，植物种多样性呈显著的降低趋势。轻度沙化草甸物种数、个体密度和丰富度指数最多；中度沙化草甸的Shannon-Wiener指数和均匀度指数最大，而优势度指数最小；在沙化过程中，高寒草甸的植被盖度显著下降，地上生物量也在下降，虽然轻度、中度和重度沙化草地的地上生物量显著高于极重度沙化区，但前者之间却无显著差异。地下根系生物量也呈显著下降的趋势。过牧是造成高山嵩草草甸沙化的主要原因。     

Effect of water stress on ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration of a Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia

Many studies on global climate have forecast major changes in the amounts and spatial patterns of precipitation that may significantly affect temperate grasslands in arid and semi-arid regions. As a part of ChinaFLUX, eddy covariance flux measurements were made at a semi-arid Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China during 2003-2004 to quantify the response of carbon exchange to environmental changes. Results showed that gross ecosystem production (FGEP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco) of the steppe were significantly depressed by water stress due to lack of precipitation during the growing season. Temperature was the dominant factor affecting FGEP and Reco in 2003, whereas soil moisture imposed a significant influence on both Reco and FGEP in 2004. Under wet conditions, Reco showed an exponentially increasing trend with temperature (Q10 = 2.0), but an apparent reduction in the value of Reco and its temperature sensitivity were observed during the periods of water stress (Q10=1.6). Both heat and water stress can cause decrease in FGEP. The sea-sonality of ecosystem carbon exchange was strongly correlated with the variation of precipitation. With less precipitation in 2003, the steppe sequestrated carbon in June and July, and went into a senescence in early August due to water stress. As compared to 2003, the severe drought during the spring of 2004 delayed the growth of the steppe until late June, and the steppe became a CO2 sink from early July until mid-September, with ample precipitation in August. The semi-arid steppe released a total of 9.7 g C·m-2 from May 16 to the end of September 2003, whereas the net carbon budget during the same period in 2004 was close to zero. Long-term measurements over various grasslands are needed to quantify carbon balance in temperate grasslands.     

土壤地球化学测量在博茨瓦纳中部地区的应用

通过在博茨瓦纳中部区Tonota-Foley一带的找矿勘查,探讨土壤地球化学测量方法在博茨瓦纳热带干旱草原景观区的应用效果。利用该方法,在Tonota-Foley一带圈定出化探综合异常17处,通过对典型异常的查证工作,运用槽探工程,查明了异常源为方解石蛇纹岩体,说明土壤地球化学测量方法适用于博茨瓦纳中部地区的景观条件,圈定的异常准确、有效,该方法可在博茨瓦纳同类地区推广使用。     

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。     

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.     

青藏高原沙漠化土地空间分布及区划

利用野外调查数据、遥感影像和已有研究成果,构建了一套适用于青藏高原沙漠化土地的分类分级指标体系及遥感解译标志。以此为基础,选取目视解译法监测青藏高原沙漠化土地的空间分布特征。结果表明：2015年青藏高原沙漠化土地面积392 913km²,占高原土地总面积的15.1%,主要包括沙质沙漠化土地、砾质沙漠化土地和风蚀残丘3种类型。沙漠化土地以中度和轻度沙漠化土地为主,重度和极重度沙漠化土地面积仅占沙漠化土地总面积的12.2%。空间上,沙漠化土地集中分布在高原的北部和西部地区,其他地区零散分布。自东南向西北,沙漠化土地面积逐渐增大,沙漠化程度不断加重。以沙漠化土地空间分布数据（面积、类型、程度、空间特征和驱动因素）为基础,结合气候、地貌、第四纪沉积物和人类活动等数据,将青藏高原沙漠化区划分为雅鲁藏布江半干旱高山宽谷沙漠化区、藏北青南高寒高原面沙漠化区、柴达木干旱盆地沙漠化区、黄河上游半干旱河流盆地沙漠化区和“三江”流域湿润半湿润高山沙漠化区。