拉萨河流域亏组山植物物种丰富度和群落特征研究

为研究草地植物群落、物种丰富度及其分布格局与影响因子之间的关系,该文以拉萨河流域林周县卡孜乡亏组山为研究地点,对山体垂直样带(3900~5100 m)植物群落特征、植物物种丰富度与各影响因子之间的关系进行了研究。研究区域共设置了13个样带(每隔100 m设一个样带),每样带设置0.5 m×0.5 m的5个样方进行植被调查,运用主成分分析(PCA)和双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)对植物群落进行排序和分类,运用冗余分析法(RDA)对群落及其分布格局与影响因子之间的关系进行分析,对植物物种丰富度与各因子之间的关系进行了回归分析。结果表明:该山体植物可分为3个群落类型,含7个群丛;影响区域植物群落物种组成和分布格局的主要环境因子为海拔,其次是坡度;物种丰富度与海拔、分种盖度呈单峰关系,与总盖度、坡度、地上生物量呈正相关。该研究结果为区域植物物种多样性和山地植物资源的保护和可持续利用提供了科学依据。     

念青唐古拉山南坡高寒草甸生产力对温度和降水变化的敏感性及其海拔分异

目前人们仍不清楚不同海拔高寒草地植被生长对气候变化的敏感性差异及其与最适宜海拔分布中心的关系。利用西藏当雄县念青唐古拉山南坡7个海拔梯度固定样地的高山嵩草草甸地上净初级生产力(ANPP)观测数据(2009—2013),建立了ANPP与同期遥感植被指数(MODIS NDVI)的线性回归方程。基于长时间序列的NDVI数据,利用建立的回归方程估算了研究区2000—2013年的ANPP。结合沿海拔梯度的HOBO气象站数据(2006—2013)及当雄县气象站数据(2000—2013),分析了2000—2013年该地区高寒草甸ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性及其随海拔的变化规律。结果表明:(1)多年平均ANPP随海拔的变化均表现为先增加后降低的单峰分布格局,最大值出现在海拔4893—4942 m,说明在海拔梯度上存在一个最适宜高寒草甸植被生长的分布中心;(2)ANPP与生长季降水量(GSP)呈正相关关系,与生长季平均气温(GST)呈负相关关系,其相关斜率的绝对值(指示ANPP的降水敏感性和温度敏感性大小)与ANPP的海拔格局具有相反的变化趋势,即在最适宜高寒草甸植被生长的海拔分布中心附近,ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性最低,而在远离该分布中心的较高和较低海拔,ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性则相对较大。研究明确了高寒草甸ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性随海拔的分异性及其与高寒草甸最适宜海拔分布中心的关系,这有助于理解沿海拔梯度不同水热组合环境下高寒生态系统对未来气候变化的响应模式。     

甘肃祁连山国家自然保护区植物群落分布格局及其与环境因子的关系

植物群落分布格局是环境因子和人类活动共同作用的结果,尤其是海拔梯度被认为是植物群落分布格局的决定性因子,为探求甘肃祁连山国家自然保护区植物群落分布格局与环境因子的关系及其驱动机制,该文在野外调查的基础上,运用数量分类和除趋势典范对应分析(DCCA)排序等方法,探讨了研究区内植物群落特征及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明：(1)88个样方共记录物种85种,隶属30科56属,利用双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)将其分为9个植物群落。(2)9个植物群落在DCCA排序图上聚集分布,呈现出较好的环境梯度,其中海拔对植物群落分布格局影响最大,其次为降水、温度、坡度、坡向和土壤腐殖质。(3)影响植物群落空间分布格局的变量中,环境因子占25.24%,空间因子占13.21%,空间因子和环境因子交叉作用占9.03%,群落分布格局未被空间因子和环境因子解释部分占52.52%,这部分主要反映了人类活动对研究区植物群落分布格局的影响。该研究成果对区域内植被的生态恢复和生物多样性的稳定维持具有重要意义。     

内蒙古草地样带植物群落生物量的梯度研究

采用样带法对内蒙古草地植物群落生物量沿水热梯度的变化特征进行了研究,并对几种回归方法进行了比较。一元回归结果表明:在本样带的限定范围内,生物量与年均温、≥0 ℃年积温、≥10 ℃年积温、年实际日照总时数等热量因子呈负相关(年均温的相关性最高),而与年降水量、年均相对湿度等水分因子呈正相关(年均相对湿度的相关性最高),其中年均温和年均相对湿度对生物量的影响最为显著,二者对生物量的空间变异起着互为消长的作用,而海拔高度的影响则不显著。多元回归结果表明,作为半干旱区植物生长的主要限制因子,年降水量在大尺度上对生物量产生影响的途径更为复杂,但其作用不可低估。生物量和地下地上生物量比值会因不同的气候区、不同的植被类型和物种组成,对环境因子的响应程度不同,在经向、纬向和草地类型梯度上的变化特征也不同。水热的配比关系要比单一的水分和温度与植物的生长具有更紧密的关系,地下地上生物量比随着水热配比关系的变化也会呈现出不同的变化规律,其驱动因子并不一定始终都是降水。也许可以认为:半干旱/干旱的划分界限是本研究所涉及的草地样带上生物量和地下地上生物量比值沿草地类型梯度变化的一个转折界限,在此界限前后,气候对生物量的主导因素和生物量对此关键因子的响应程度都有所变化。     

Effects of plant intraspecific variation on the prediction of C3/C4 vegetation ratio from carbon isotope composition of topsoil organic matter across grasslands

植物种内变异对草地表层有机质碳同位素组成预测C₃/C₄植被比的影响植物群落中C₃和C₄植物的比例和组成对诸多生态系统过程具有重要影响。解析C₃和C₄植物碳同位素的环境驱动过程与调控因子,对于从土壤碳同位素的角度来预测C₃/C₄植被比和组成具有重要意义。本研究旨在评估草原植物碳同位素特征的种内变异将如何影响C₃和C₄植物的碳同位素组成以及C₃/C₄植被比的预测。沿中国北方草原的自然干旱梯度选择26个植物群落,通过分析植物和土壤的碳同位素组成,采用混合模型来预测C₄植物对土壤有机碳的相对贡献。本研究对比分析了如下3种情境：(1)考虑C₃和C₄植物碳同位素的种内和种间效应;(2)仅考虑碳同位素的种间变异;(3)忽略碳同位素的种内和种间变异。研究结果表明,植物碳同位素组成沿中国北方草原自然干旱梯度的变化具有物种特异性。C₃和C₄植物的碳同位素组成与干旱指数之间呈显著负相关关系,但C₃植物比C₄植物对环境的干旱变化更为敏感。植物碳同位素特征的种内变异在驱动C₃植物功能群碳同位素沿干旱梯度的分布格局中发挥着重要作用。如果忽略植物碳同位素特征的种内变异将会显著高估C₄植物的相对贡献。本研究结果表明,草原植物碳同位素特征的种内变异对于准确预测C₃/C₄植被组成具有重要意义。     

荒漠草原与典型草原NPP、碳积累对不同降雨年份和利用方式的响应

不同草原利用方式正在影响着内蒙古的草原生态系统,而且在未来降水空间格局变化的背景下,它们共同决定了生态系统植被类型、净初级生产力(NPP)和生态系统碳积累。选取内蒙古中部两个重要的草地类型:荒漠草原和典型草原,研究不同草原利用方式(围栏禁牧、划区轮牧、割草、自由放牧)植物群落在降雨量不同的两个生长季节地上(ANPP)、地下净初级生产力(BNPP)的变化,同时也评估了植物群落的碳积累,研究结果表明:1)在降雨量亏缺年份,与围封相比,荒漠草原自由放牧区ANPP、BNPP及碳积累分别下降了57.1%、51.7%和56.0%,而典型草原自由放牧区分别下降了18.4%、25.1%和17.9%。2)在降雨量充足年份,与围封相比,荒漠草原划区轮牧区ANPP、BNPP以及碳积累分别增加了18.2%、9.8%和21.9%,而典型草原各处理下围封禁牧区ANPP仍是最高;3)两种草地类型下,降雨量对自由放牧的调控作用高于其它草地利用方式;4)荒漠草原ANPP在丰雨年是欠雨年的2倍,而典型草原仅增加了79.0%,降雨量对荒漠草原生产力的季节调控作用远高于典型草原。在未来全球气候变暖和降水格局变化的情况下,荒漠草原降雨量是影响荒漠植物群落NPP和碳积累的主导因子。     

中国旱区样带尺度植物多样性和生产力与环境因子的关系

旱区植物多样性、生产力与环境因子的关系是旱区生态学研究的重要课题,对于揭示该地区植被的环境适应机制有重要的参考价值。基于中国旱区东西样带的系统采样和原位调查,定量分析了各影响因素对旱区植物多样性和生产力变化的解释作用,阐明了旱区群落生产力的调控机制。结果表明：(1)旱区群落性状加权值与地上生物量间的关系(R²=0.46)相较于Shannon-Wiener指数与地上生物量的关系(R²=0.21)更为紧密。(2)旱区群落Shannon-Wiener指数、群落性状加权值、地上生物量与年均降水量、土壤有机碳含量、土壤总氮含量线性正相关,与土壤总磷含量无显著相关性;Shannon-Wiener指数、群落性状加权值与年均气温线性负相关,地上生物量与年均气温无显著相关性。(3)年均降水量对旱区群落性状加权值的解释率为40.9%,两者为正相关关系;年均气温对Shannon-Wiener指数的解释率为28.3%,两者为负相关关系。(4)群落性状加权值对地上生物量的直接路径显著,年均降雨量、年均气温和土壤有机碳通过群落性状加权值间接影响地上生物量。     

环境和生物因子对黄河三角洲滨海湿地净生态系统CO2交换的影响

通过涡度相关和微气象观测技术,对黄河三角洲滨海湿地净生态系统CO₂交换(NEE)以及环境、生物因子进行了观测,探究湿地NEE变化规律及环境和生物因子对NEE的影响. 结果表明: 在日尺度上,生长季NEE呈明显“U”型曲线,非生长季变幅较小;在季节尺度上,NEE生长季波动较大,表现为碳汇,非生长季波动较小,表现为碳源;在年尺度上,滨海湿地生态系统表现为碳汇,总净固碳量为-247 g C·m^-2. 白天NEE主要受控于光合有效辐射(PAR),且生态系统表观量子产量(α)与白天生态系统呼吸(R_eco,d)均于8月达到最大值,最大光合速率(A_max)于7月达到最大值;夜间NEE随气温(T_a)呈指数增加趋势,生态系统的温度敏感系数(Q₁₀)为2.5,且土壤含水量(SWC)越高,Q₁₀值越大.非生长季NEE只与净辐射(R_n)呈显著的线性负相关,与其他环境因子无显著相关关系.生长季NEE与R_n、T_a、土壤10 cm温度(T_{s 10})等环境因子以及叶面积指数(LAI)呈显著的线性负相关,但与地上生物量(AGB)无显著相关关系.多元回归分析表明,R_n和LAI对生长季NEE的协同影响达到52%.     

环境和生物因子对黄河三角洲滨海湿地净生态系统CO2交换的影响

通过涡度相关和微气象观测技术,对黄河三角洲滨海湿地净生态系统CO₂交换(NEE)以及环境、生物因子进行了观测,探究湿地NEE变化规律及环境和生物因子对NEE的影响. 结果表明: 在日尺度上,生长季NEE呈明显“U”型曲线,非生长季变幅较小;在季节尺度上,NEE生长季波动较大,表现为碳汇,非生长季波动较小,表现为碳源;在年尺度上,滨海湿地生态系统表现为碳汇,总净固碳量为-247 g C·m^-2. 白天NEE主要受控于光合有效辐射(PAR),且生态系统表观量子产量(α)与白天生态系统呼吸(R_eco,d)均于8月达到最大值,最大光合速率(A_max)于7月达到最大值;夜间NEE随气温(T_a)呈指数增加趋势,生态系统的温度敏感系数(Q₁₀)为2.5,且土壤含水量(SWC)越高,Q₁₀值越大.非生长季NEE只与净辐射(R_n)呈显著的线性负相关,与其他环境因子无显著相关关系.生长季NEE与R_n、T_a、土壤10 cm温度(T_{s 10})等环境因子以及叶面积指数(LAI)呈显著的线性负相关,但与地上生物量(AGB)无显著相关关系.多元回归分析表明,R_n和LAI对生长季NEE的协同影响达到52%.     

海河流域景观空间梯度格局及其与环境因子的关系

基于GIS技术,以海河流域为对象,首先,分别采用Fragstats3.3的标准法和移动视窗法先后分析了流域整体景观格局及其空间分异特征;然后,针对流域本身自然地理梯度特点,分别沿流域纵向(河流流向)梯度和横向(垂直与河流流向)梯度设置了两条样带,应用移动视窗法计算了景观层次下的斑块面积(AREA_MN)、蔓延度指数(CONTAG)、边界密度(ED)、形状指数(LSI)、斑块密度(PD)、多样性指数(SHDI),获得了景观沿两个样带方向的梯度格局;最后,以高程、降水、气温、人口和GDP为环境因子,以上述6个指数值为目标物种,利用去趋势典范对应分析(DCCA)方法研究了景观梯度格局与环境因子的关系。结果表明:2000年海河流域内景观基质为农田,面积占55.9%,流域内景观结构以块状结构为主,并零散分布有圈层和带状(廊道)结构;景观梯度格局在两条样带上均表现为类似的特征,即随景观类型变化呈现不同幅度的波动,两条样带上均存在较为明显的过渡带;DCCA分析表明:景观梯度格局与环境因子关系密切,区域高程、降水量、温度对流域尺度的景观格局起决定性作用,人口数量、GDP则在局部地区对景观格局有着重要影响。     

Ecological responses of dominant grasses along two climatic gradients in the Great Plains of the United States

Abstract. Few empirical data exist to examine the influence of regional scale environmental gradients on productivity patterns of plant species. In this paper we analyzed the productivity of several dominant grass species along two climatic gradients, mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT), in the Great Plains of the United States. We used climatic data from 296 weather stations, species production data from Natural Resource Conservation Service rangeland surveys and a geographic information system to spatially integrate the data. Both MAP and MAT were significantly related to annual above-ground net primary production (ANPP). MAP explained 54% to 89% of the variation in ANPP of two C₄ short-grasses, Bouteloua gracilis and Buchloë dactyloides, and two C₄ tall-grasses, Andropogon gerardii and Schizachyrium scoparium (= Andropogon scoparius). MAT explained 19% to 41% of the variation in ANPP of two C₄ grasses, B. gracilis and B. dactyloides, and 41% to 66% of the variation in ANPP of two C₃ grasses, Agropyron smithii and Stipa comata. ANPP patterns for species along both gradients were described by either linear, negative exponential, logistic, normal or skewed curves. Patterns of absolute ANPP (g/m²) for species differed from those of relative ANPP (%) along the MAP gradient. Responses were similar for species with common functional characteristics (e.g. short-grasses, tall-grasses, C₃, C₄). Our empirical results support asymmetric responses of species to environmental gradients. Results demonstrate the importance of species attributes, type of environmental gradient and measure of species importance (relative or absolute productivity) in evaluating ecological response patterns.     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics across a natural precipitation gradient in Patagonia,Argentina

Abstract. Both ecosystem carbon gain and nutrient availability are largely constrained by the magnitude and seasonality of precipitation in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems. We investigated the role of precipitation on ecosystem processes along an International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP) transect in temperate South America. The transect consists of a contiguous precipitation gradient in the southern region of Argentinean Patagonia (44–45° S), from 100 mm to 800 mm mean annual precipitation (MAP) and vegetation ranging from desert scrub to closed canopy forest. Gravimetric soil water content tracked changes in seasonal and annual precipitation, with a linear increase in soil water content with increasing MAP. Above‐ground net primary production (ANPP) increased linearly along the gradient of precipitation (ANPP =– 31.2 + 0.52 MAP, r²= 0.84, p= 0.028), supporting the relationship that carbon assimilation is largely controlled by available water in these sites, and was in general agreement with regional models of ANPP and rainfall. However, inorganic soil nitrogen was also highly linearly correlated with both MAP ([N] = 0.19 MAP – 32, r²= 0.96, p= 0.003) and ANPP (ANPP = 2.6 [N_inorganic]+59.4, r²= 0.79, p= 0.042), suggesting a direct control of precipitation on nitrogen turnover and an interaction with nitrogen availability in controlling carbon gain. The asynchrony of precipitation and changes in dominant vegetation may play important roles in determining the carbon‐nitrogen interactions along this rainfall gradient.     

Feedback from plant species change amplifies CO2 enhancement of grassland productivity

Dynamic global vegetation models simulate feedbacks of vegetation change on ecosystem processes, but direct, experimental evidence for feedbacks that result from atmospheric CO₂ enrichment is rare. We hypothesized that feedbacks from species change would amplify the initial CO₂ stimulation of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of tallgrass prairie communities. Communities of perennial forb and C₄ grass species were grown for 5 years along a field CO₂ gradient (250–500 μL L^?1) in central Texas USA on each of three soil types, including upland and lowland clay soils and a sandy soil. CO₂ enrichment increased community ANPP by 0–117% among years and soils and increased the contribution of the tallgrass species Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass) to community ANPP on each of the three soil types. CO₂‐induced changes in ANPP and Sorghastrum abundance were linked. The slope of ANPP‐CO₂ regressions increased between initial and final years on the two clay soils because of a positive feedback from the increase in Sorghastrum fraction. This feedback accounted for 30–60% of the CO₂‐mediated increase in ANPP on the upland and lowland clay soils during the final 3 years and 1 year of the experiment, respectively. By contrast, species change had little influence on the ANPP‐CO₂ response on the sandy soil, possibly because Sorghastrum increased largely at the expense of a functionally similar C₄ grass species. By favoring a mesic C₄ tall grass, CO₂ enrichment approximately doubled the initial enhancement of community ANPP on two clay soils. The CO₂‐stimulation of grassland productivity may be significantly underestimated if feedbacks from plant community change are not considered.     

Differential roles of species richness versus species asynchrony in regulating community stability along a precipitation gradient

Plant community may provide products and services to humans. However, patterns and drivers of community stability along a precipitation gradient remain unclear. A regional‐scale transect survey was conducted over a 3‐year period from 2013 to 2015, along a precipitation gradient from 275 to 555 mm and spanning 440 km in length from west to east in a temperate semiarid grassland of northern China, a central part of the Eurasian steppe. Our study provided regional‐scale evidence that the community stability increased with increasing precipitation in the semiarid ecosystem. The patterns of community stability along a precipitation gradient were ascribed to community composition and community dynamics, such as species richness and species asynchrony, rather than the abiotic effect of precipitation. Species richness regulated the temporal mean (μ) of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), while species asynchrony regulated the temporal standard deviation (σ) of ANPP, which in turn contributed to community stability. Our findings highlight the crucial role of community composition and community dynamics in regulating community stability under climate change.     

基于树木年轮定量重建过去50年贵州典型森林优势树种的地上生物量与生产力变化

利用树木年轮宽度结合树木生物量方程,重建了贵州3个地区典型森林(2个常绿与落叶阔叶混交林和1个典型常绿阔叶林)6个优势树种(天龙山:化香树Platycarya strobilacea、安顺润楠Machilus cavaleriei;茂兰:化香树、马尾松Pinus massoniana;雷公山:华山松Pinus armandii、白梓树Pterostyrax psilophyllus)以树木个体为单元的地上生物量(AGB)与地上净初级生产力(ANPP);比较了喀斯特与非喀斯特地区树木AGB与ANPP的差异;并研究了近50年气候变化对ANPP的影响。结果显示,针叶树的平均年轮宽度大于阔叶树,喀斯特地区针叶树和阔叶树的平均树木年轮宽度,分别小于非喀斯特地区针叶树和阔叶树的平均树木年轮宽度。喀斯特地区树木的AGB及其变异幅度均小于非喀斯特地区树木。近50年来,喀斯特地区阔叶树与针叶树的ANPP平均分别为(2.4±1.2) kg a~(-1)株~(-1)和(4.6±4.1) kg a~(-1)株~(-1),显著低于非喀斯特地区阔叶树与针叶树的(5.6±4.8) kg a~(-1)株~(-1)和(12.4±7.7) kg a~(-1)株~(-1)。喀斯特地区树木ANPP的增长趋势与年均温的相关性高于生长季降水,非喀斯特地区树木ANPP与年均温和生长季降水均显著相关,且不管是在喀斯特还是在非喀斯特地区,针叶树ANPP对气候指标的变化比阔叶树更敏感。     

Soil Temperature, Not Aboveground Plant Productivity, Best Predicts Intra-Annual Variations of Soil Respiration in Central Iowa Grasslands

Soil respiration (R_SOIL) is the second largest carbon flux between terrestrial systems and the atmosphere, with a magnitude 10 times greater than anthropogenic carbon dioxide production. Therefore, it is important that we understand, and be able to predict, how R_SOIL responds to climate change. Although a positive, significant temperature effect on R_SOIL has long been recognized, recent studies emphasize the overriding importance of current photosynthesis in controlling R_SOIL. We tested the hypothesis that model inclusion of intra-annual variations in aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) significantly improves R_SOIL estimates over predictions based on soil temperature alone. We also evaluated the possibility that canopy production is less directly linked to R_SOIL, by testing the hypothesis that intersite differences in R_SOIL correlate more strongly with root biomass than with ANPP. We tested these hypotheses by measuring R_SOIL, ANPP, and root biomass at four Iowa grasslands that differed in aboveground growth phenology and productivity. Among all sites, intra-annual variations in R_SOIL were most strongly related to soil temperature (R ² = 0.89), not ANPP (R ² = 0.53). All sites responded identically to changes in soil temperature (site-by-temperature P = 0.53), but inconsistently to variation in aboveground dynamics (site-by-canopy P < 0.0001). Incorporating canopy dynamics into temperature-based predictive models improved model R ² by a maximum of 0.01. Among-site differences in R_SOIL were related to root biomass (P < 0.001) but not ANPP (P = 0.34). We found no useful linkage between canopy characteristics and intra-annual or site-specific R_SOIL predictions, perhaps because shoot and root dynamics were not consistently linked through time or among sites.     

Spatial variations in aboveground net primary productivity along a climate gradient in Eurasian temperate grassland: effects of mean annual precipitation and its seasonal distribution

Concomitant changes of annual precipitation and its seasonal distribution within the context of global climate change have dramatic impacts on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of grassland ecosystems. In this study, combining remote sensing products with in situ measurements of ANPP, we quantified the effects of mean annual precipitation (MAP) and precipitation seasonal distribution (PSD) on the spatial variations in ANPP along a climate gradient in Eurasian temperate grassland. Our results indicated that ANPP increased exponentially with MAP for the entire temperate grassland, but linearly for a specific grassland type, i.e. the desert steppe, typical steppe, and meadow steppe from arid to humid regions. The slope of the linear relationship appeared to be steeper in the more humid meadow steppe than that in the drier typical and desert steppes. PSD also had significant effect on the spatial variations in ANPP. It explained 39.4% of the spatial ANPP for the entire grassland investigated, being comparable with the explanatory power of MAP (40.0%). On the other hand, the relative contribution of PSD and MAP is grassland type specific. MAP exhibited a much stronger explanatory power than PSD for the desert steppe and the meadow steppe at the dry and wet end, respectively. However, PSD was the dominant factor affecting the spatial variation in ANPP for the median typical steppe. Our results imply that altered pattern of PSD due to climate change may be as important as the total amount in terms of effects on ANPP in Eurasian temperate grassland.     

Response of plant species richness and primary productivity in shrublands along a north–south gradient in Europe to seven years of experimental warming and drought: reductions in primary productivity in the heat and drought year of 2003

We used a nonintrusive field experiment carried out at six sites – Wales (UK), Denmark (DK), the Netherlands (NL), Hungary (HU), Sardinia (Italy – IT), and Catalonia (Spain – SP) – along a climatic and latitudinal gradient to examine the response of plant species richness and primary productivity to warming and drought in shrubland ecosystems. The warming treatment raised the plot daily temperature by ca. 1 °C, while the drought treatment led to a reduction in soil moisture at the peak of the growing season that ranged from 26% at the SP site to 82% in the NL site. During the 7 years the experiment lasted (1999–2005), we used the pin‐point method to measure the species composition of plant communities and plant biomass, litterfall, and shoot growth of the dominant plant species at each site. A significantly lower increase in the number of species pin‐pointed per transect was found in the drought plots at the SP site, where the plant community was still in a process of recovering from a forest fire in 1994. No changes in species richness were found at the other sites, which were at a more mature and stable state of succession and, thus less liable to recruitment of new species. The relationship between annual biomass accumulation and temperature of the growing season was positive at the coldest site and negative at the warmest site. The warming treatment tended to increase the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) at the northern sites. The relationship between annual biomass accumulation and soil moisture during the growing season was not significant at the wettest sites, but was positive at the driest sites. The drought treatment tended to reduce the ANPP in the NL, HU, IT, and SP sites. The responses to warming were very strongly related to the Gaussen aridity index (stronger responses the lower the aridity), whereas the responses to drought were not. Changes in the annual aboveground biomass accumulation, litterfall, and, thus, the ANPP, mirrored the interannual variation in climate conditions: the most outstanding change was a decrease in biomass accumulation and an increase in litterfall at most sites during the abnormally hot year of 2003. Species richness also tended to decrease in 2003 at all sites except the cold and wet UK site. Species‐specific responses to warming were found in shoot growth: at the SP site, Globularia alypum was not affected, while the other dominant species, Erica multiflora, grew 30% more; at the UK site, Calluna vulgaris tended to grow more in the warming plots, while Empetrum nigrum tended to grow less. Drought treatment decreased plant growth in several studied species, although there were some species such as Pinus halepensis at the SP site or C. vulgaris at the UK site that were not affected. The magnitude of responses to warming and drought thus depended greatly on the differences between sites, years, and species and these multiple plant responses may be expected to have consequences at ecosystem and community level. Decreases in biodiversity and the increase in E. multiflora growth at the SP site as a response to warming challenge the assumption that sensitivity to warming may be less well developed at more southerly latitudes; likewise, the fact that one of the studied shrublands presented negative ANPP as a response to the 2003 heat wave also challenges the hypothesis that future climate warming will lead to an enhancement of plant growth and carbon sequestration in temperate ecosystems. Extreme events may thus change the general trend of increased productivity in response to warming in the colder sites.     

Effects of Urbanization-Induced Environmental Changes on Ecosystem Functioning in the Phoenix Metropolitan Region,USA

Abstract Urban ecosystems are profoundly modified by human activities and thereby provide a unique “natural laboratory” to study potential ecosystem responses to anthropogenic environmental changes. Because urban environments are now affected by urban heat islands, carbon dioxide domes, and high-level nitrogen deposition, to some extent they portend the future of the global ecosystem. Urbanization in the metropolitan region of Phoenix, Arizona (USA) has resulted in pronounced changes in air temperature (T _air), atmospheric CO₂ concentration, and nitrogen deposition (N_dep). In this study, we used a process-based ecosystem model to explore how the Larrea tridentata dominated Sonoran Desert ecosystem may respond to these urbanization-induced environmental changes. We found that water availability controls the magnitude and pattern of responses of the desert ecosystem to elevated CO₂, air temperature, N deposition and their combinations. Urbanization effects were much stronger in wet years than normal and dry years. At the ecosystem level, aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and soil organic matter (SOM) both increased with increasing CO₂ and N_dep individually and in combinations with changes in T _air. Soil N (N_soil) responded positively to increased N deposition and air temperature, but negatively to elevated CO₂. Correspondingly, ANPP and SOM of the Larrea ecosystem decreased along the urban–suburban–wildland gradient, whereas N_soil peaked in the suburban area. At the plant functional type (FT) level, ANPP generally responded positively to elevated CO₂ and N_dep, but negatively to increased T _air. C₃ winter annuals showed a greater ANPP response to higher CO₂ levels (>420 ppm) than shrubs, which could lead over the long term to changes in species composition, because competition among functional groups is strong for resources such as soil water and nutrients. Overall, the combined effects of the three environmental factors depended on rainfall variability and nonlinear interactions within and between plant functional types and environmental factors. We intend to use these simulation results as working hypotheses to guide our field experiments and observations. Experimental testing of these hypotheses through this process should improve our understanding of urban ecosystems under increasing environmental stresses.     

Successional change in species composition alters climate sensitivity of grassland productivity

Succession theory predicts altered sensitivity of ecosystem functions to disturbance (i.e., climate change) due to the temporal shift in plant community composition. However, empirical evidence in global change experiments is lacking to support this prediction. Here, we present findings from an 8‐year long‐term global change experiment with warming and altered precipitation manipulation (double and halved amount). First, we observed a temporal shift in species composition over 8 years, resulting in a transition from an annual C₃‐dominant plant community to a perennial C₄‐dominant plant community. This successional transition was independent of any experimental treatments. During the successional transition, the response of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) to precipitation addition magnified from neutral to +45.3%, while the response to halved precipitation attenuated substantially from ?17.6% to neutral. However, warming did not affect ANPP in either state. The findings further reveal that the time‐dependent climate sensitivity may be regulated by successional change in species composition, highlighting the importance of vegetation dynamics in regulating the response of ecosystem productivity to precipitation change.