生物土壤结皮对荒漠土壤线虫群落的影响

在干旱的沙漠生态系统中,生物土壤结皮对于沙丘的固定和土壤生物的维持起着相当重要的作用.土壤线虫能敏感的指示土壤的恢复程度,是衡量沙区生态恢复与健康的重要生物学属性,而目前关于生物土壤结皮与土壤线虫的关系研究很少.为探明生物土壤结皮对土壤线虫的影响,以腾格里沙漠东南缘的人工植被固沙区藻结皮和藓类结皮覆盖的沙丘土壤为研究对象,根据固沙年限的不同将样地分为4个不同的区进行采样(1956、1964、1981和1991年固沙区),以流沙区作为对照;同时,在不同季度(4、7、9和12月)分别采集腾格里沙漠东南缘的人工植被固沙区藻结皮和藓类结皮覆盖下不同土层(0-10、10-20和20-30 cm)的沙丘土壤,以沙坡头地区的红卫天然植被区为对照,分析生物土壤结皮下土壤线虫的时空变化.采用改良的Baermann漏斗法进行分离线虫,用光学显微镜鉴定并统计.研究表明:1956、1964、1981和1991年人工植被固沙区的藻结皮和藓类结皮均可显著提高其下土壤线虫多度、属的丰富度、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数、富集指数和结构指数(P＜0.05),这可能是因为生物土壤结皮的存在为土壤线虫提供了重要的食物来源和适宜的生存环境;固沙年限与结皮下土壤线虫多度、属的丰富度、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数、富集指数和结构指数存在显著的正相关关系(P＜0.05),这说明固沙年限越久,越有利于土壤线虫的生存和繁衍;结皮类型显著影响土壤线虫群落,相对于藻结皮而言,藓类结皮下土壤线虫多度与属的丰富度更高(P＜0.05),这说明演替后期的藓类结皮比演替早期的藻结皮更有利于土壤线虫的生存和繁衍.此外,藻结皮和藓类结皮均可显著增加其下0-10、10-20和20-30 cm土层线虫多度和属的丰富度(P＜0.05),但随着土壤深度的增加,这种影响逐渐减弱,表明生物土壤结皮更有利于表层土壤线虫的生存;而且,随着季节的变化,藻结皮和藓类结皮下土壤线虫多度基本表现为秋季＞夏季＞春季＞冬季,这些反映了生物土壤结皮的生物量、盖度和种类组成随着季节变化而变化.因此,腾格里沙漠东南缘的人工植被固沙区生物土壤结皮的存在与演替有利于土壤线虫的生存和繁衍,增加了线虫数量、种类和多样性,这指示了生物土壤结皮有利于该区土壤及其相应生态系统的恢复.     

人工固沙植被恢复对地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响

人工绿洲是干旱区主要的自然景观之一,为了维护绿洲稳定而营建的防护林强烈改变地表生态水文过程,进而影响着地上和地下生物多样性。然而,以往的研究对地上植被关注较多,而对土壤动物研究较少。以张掖绿洲外围人工固沙植被群落和天然固沙植被群落为研究对象,探讨人工固沙植被恢复对荒漠地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响及不同动物类群对植被变化的响应模式。研究表明,天然固沙植被群落转变为人工固沙植被群落显著降低了地表节肢动物数量,但提高了地表节肢动物类群丰富度和多样性,这在5月份表现尤为明显。植被类型对地表节肢动物群落的影响不同,8月人工柽柳林群落地表节肢动物活动密度、类群丰富度和多样性均显著高于人工梭梭林群落。人工固沙植被恢复显著降低了适应荒漠环境的拟步甲科甲虫,而蚁科和部分蜘蛛的数量显著增加,它们对人工固沙植被恢复的响应模式不同决定了群落结构及多样性的变化规律。此外,研究还发现一些地表节肢动物类群对不同生境具有强烈的指示作用,如拟步甲科等可指示荒漠生境,潮虫科等可指示梭梭林生境,而蠼螋科和狼蛛科等可指示柽柳林生境。综上所述,人工栽植固沙灌木形成的固沙植被群落导致了一些适应荒漠环境的地表节肢动物类群的数量降低,但也为更多的地表节肢动物类群提供了适应栖居环境和充足的食物资源等,从而提高了地表节肢动物的多样性。     

半荒漠藻结皮中藻类的种类组成和分布

对宁夏沙坡头半荒漠藻结皮中２２种藻（其中蓝藻１０种,绿藻４种,硅藻６种,裸藻２种）进行了分离、鉴定;利用土壤磨片和电子探针揭示了藻体与基质间的结合方式;通过光镜、扫描电镜观察,从８个层次研究了藻类在结皮中的分布,并发现它们在微米间也呈“层片”分布规律,藻结皮由表及里依次为无机矿物质保护层（ｃａ．０．０２ｍｍ）、富藻层（ｃａ．０．０２～２．５ｍｍ）及疏藻层（２．５～５．０ｍｍ）;藻丝皮由表及里依次为     

发状念珠藻(Nostoc flagelliforme Born.et Flah.)色素的初步分析

发状念珠藻(Nostoc flagelliforme Bornet Flah.)俗名发菜,是一种具有异形胞的蓝绿藻。它分布在很多国家。我国新疆、内蒙、宁夏、青海和甘肃等省、区的草原和荒漠上都有发菜生长。它对固沙和增加牧区土壤肥力起一定的作用。据分析,发菜富含蛋白质和钙、磷、铁、碘等元素。我国自春秋时代开始就以发菜为食用藻,现更远销国外。由于过量耧采,严重地破坏了发菜生长地区的生态,使固沙和畜牧业受到影响。因此近     

荒漠地衣对沙坡头人工植被固沙区的生态影响

腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头地区所形成的微型生物结皮(microbiotic crust)占优势的生态格局是荒漠地区天然植被中特有的生态景观之一。荒漠地衣作为微型生物结皮中重要的组成部分,在影响生态变化方面扮演着不可或缺的角色。本研究调查了不同建立年代的人工植被固沙区中的维管植物和微型生物结皮中地衣的物种组成和盖度,测定了结皮土壤的主要养分含量。结果显示:微型生物结皮中地衣以胶衣Collema和石果衣Endocarpon两属为优势类群;随人工植被建立时间的延长,维管植物和微型生物结皮盖度、结皮厚度与土壤养分含量呈增高趋势,并基本呈显著的正相关关系。维管植物、微型生物结皮、地衣和土壤养分基本一致的变化规律表明,微型生物结皮对固沙区中浅根系植被发育和土壤恢复具有正效应,为人工高效治沙及全面实施"沙漠生物地毯工程"提供了必要的理论基础。     

人工藻结皮对库布齐沙地土壤酶活性的影响

土壤酶是土壤内存在的具有生物活性的蛋白质,土壤是土壤酶的良好介质,为各种酶类提供酶促条件,且土壤成分与酶通过共价键、离子键或氢键等方式的吸附结合作用,能防止酶的钝化失活。目前已发现的土壤酶约60种,主要来自于土壤微生物,土壤酶的主要作用是参与C、N、P、S等重要营养元素的循环,在植物营养物质的转化中起着重要作用,它与土壤微生物一起共同推动土壤生物化学的全过程,土壤酶活性作为土壤质量的生物活性指标已被广泛接受。我国对土壤酶的研究始于20世纪60年代,20世纪80年代后,随着环境科学的发展,土壤酶研究越来越受重视。国内对农田生态系统的土壤酶研究较多,土壤酶在环境污染治理中的作用也进行了初步探讨,然而土壤酶在荒漠生态系统中的功能及其作用机制的探讨较少,更没有把土壤酶的研究成果用于荒漠生态系统的管理、恢复与重建工作。本实验中,采集库布齐沙地有代表性的流动沙丘和固定沙丘（三年前建立人工植被）1—5cm深度的沙土,首先测定了二者中转化酶、蛋白酶、脲酶以及碱性磷酸酶的活性,然后将荒漠藻接种到流沙表面,研究了人工微藻结皮对四种土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明：与内蒙古高原上广泛分布的栗钙土相比,沙地中的土壤酶活性很低;但固定沙丘中的土壤酶活性显著高于流动沙丘（p〈0.05）。将Microcoleus vaginatusGom。（具鞘微鞘藻）和Phormidium tenue（Menegh.）Gom.（纤细席藻）按0.5μgChl..a/cm2的接种量接种到沙表面时,30d后可形成明显的藻结皮,接种90d后,沙土中转化酶、蛋白酶、脲酶以及碱性磷酸酶的活性分别是对照的1.6—3.6倍、3.1—6.0倍、2.8—10.6倍、29—79倍。目前,荒漠化治理已成为全世界面临的重大课题,本实验研究结果揭示了不同沙地中土壤酶活性的差异,并从土壤酶的角度揭示了人工微藻结皮对土壤的改良作用。该成果对于利用微藻进行荒漠拓殖和荒漠化治理具有一定的指导意义。     

几种固沙荒漠藻的温度适应性

蓝藻结皮在干旱和半干旱区广泛分布,它们在环境状态的维持和改良过程中发挥着重要的作用。在荒漠藻固沙技术的应用过程中,温度不仅影响藻类在培养池中的培养,还影响接种后藻类的生长。因此,摸清优势固沙藻类的温度生长特征及对不同温度的生长适应性,对于接种蓝藻固沙技术的应用具有积极的意义。实验分3部分:研究了室温培养条件下3种荒漠优势蓝藻-具鞘微鞘藻(Microcoleus vaginatus)、爪哇伪枝藻(Scytonema javanicum)、纤细席藻(Phormidium tenue)的生长曲线,在不同温度(2、5、10、15、25、35℃)、开放式载体培养状态下3种蓝藻的生长状况及形态观察,以及爪哇伪枝藻在不同温度(10、15、20、25、30℃)培养条件下的光合活性、光合色素含量和伪枝藻素含量的变化。实验结果表明:(1)在液体培养基中,纤细席藻生长速率最快,高于具鞘微鞘藻和爪哇伪枝藻;(2)开放式载体培养条件下,藻株的生长速率低于液体培养,因此荒漠优势藻类的培养优先选择液体培养,具鞘微鞘藻和爪哇伪枝藻不易被细菌污染,纤细席藻容易受到细菌污染,在培养该藻株时要考虑添加抗生素类药物抑制细菌过度繁殖;(3)爪哇伪枝藻短期培养(18d)宜选择相对较高的培养温度(25—30℃),而长期培养(30d)宜选择相对较低的培养温度(15—20℃)。     

荒漠地表生物土壤结皮形成与演替特征概述

土壤表面结皮是世界范围内干旱沙漠地区土壤表面广泛存在的自然现象,包括物理结皮和生物土壤结皮两大类型。其中,生物土壤结皮作为干旱沙漠地区特殊环境的产物,是由细菌、真菌、蓝绿藻、地衣和苔藓植物与土壤形成的有机复合体。它的形成使土壤表面在物理、化学和生物学特性上均明显不同于松散沙土,具有较强的抗风蚀功能和重要的生态效应,成为干旱沙漠地区植被演替的重要基础。随着形成生物土壤结皮的物种更替,维持结皮结构的主要胶结方式亦随之发生变化,即由胞外多糖的粘结作用逐渐转变为蓝藻和荒漠藻的藻丝体、地衣菌丝体以及苔藓植物假根的缠绕和捆绑作用,物种更替是结皮微结构和胶结方式转化的生物基础。生物土壤结皮的形成通常可以分为以下几个阶段:生物土壤结皮的早期阶段(土壤酶和土壤微生物),藻结皮阶段、地衣结皮阶段和苔藓结皮阶段。即随着土壤微生物在沙土表面的生长,随后出现丝状蓝藻和荒漠藻类植物,形成以藻类植物为主体的荒漠藻结皮;当土壤表面得到一定固定后,便开始出现地衣和苔藓植物,形成以地衣和苔藓植物为优势的生物结皮类型。其中,前一阶段的完成又为后一阶段的开始提供良好的环境条件。当环境条件适宜时,生物土壤结皮也可以不经历其中某个阶段而直接发育到更高级的阶段。     

内蒙古高原荒漠区四种锦鸡儿属植物灌丛沙包形态和固沙能力比较

测定了内蒙古高原荒漠区4种锦鸡儿属优势植物(柠条锦鸡儿、狭叶锦鸡儿、荒漠锦鸡儿和垫状锦鸡儿)不同大小灌丛的灌丛形态参数、沙包形态参数和沙包体积,目的是掌握这些锦鸡儿属植物灌丛的沙包形态特征、沙包发育特征和固沙能力随着灌丛发育的变化,比较4种锦鸡儿属植物灌丛沙包的形态、发育特征和固沙能力的差异。研究发现:柠条锦鸡儿沙包形态呈球冠状,狭叶锦鸡儿沙包呈圆锥状,荒漠锦鸡儿沙包呈圆台状,垫状锦鸡儿沙包呈半球状。同种锦鸡儿属灌丛沙包的底面直径与地上枝条鲜重呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01),沙包高度与地上枝条鲜重无显著相关性(P>0.05),沙包高度与植物株高呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05),沙包坡角与地上枝条鲜重呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05),沙包半径与沙包高度呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。灌丛水平扩展快于垂向生长,灌丛沙包的水平发育也快于垂向发育。随着灌丛地上生物量的增加,4种锦鸡儿属植物不仅沙包体积增大,而且固沙效率也显著增加(P<0.01)。不同锦鸡儿属植物灌丛和沙包形态参数存在显著差异。柠条锦鸡儿和狭叶锦鸡儿的灌丛水平和垂直方向成比例扩展,而荒漠锦鸡儿和垫状锦鸡儿无论灌丛面积多大,高度基本不变。随着灌丛地上枝条鲜重的增加,4种锦鸡儿灌丛沙包底面积都在增大,其中荒漠锦鸡儿增长最快,垫状锦鸡儿次之,柠条锦鸡儿排位第三,狭叶锦鸡儿增长最慢。随着灌丛沙包水平方向的扩展,荒漠锦鸡儿沙包垂向扩展最慢,最终导致其沙包垂向尺度最小;柠条锦鸡儿、垫状锦鸡儿和狭叶锦鸡儿沙包两个方向发育较为均衡。4种锦鸡儿属植物的固定沙包体积和固沙效率都表现为:荒漠锦鸡儿>柠条锦鸡儿>狭叶锦鸡儿>垫状锦鸡儿。这些研究结果表明,灌丛地上生物量的不同决定了种内沙包的体积、形态和植物固沙能力的差异;灌丛形态和发育特征的不同决定了种间沙包形态、沙包发育和植物固沙能力的差异。     

温带荒漠生物土壤结皮微生物群落结构与功能演替研究综述

生物土壤结皮(biological soil crusts,BSC)在荒漠植被的恢复及稳定性维持方面发挥了重要作用,被誉为“荒漠生态系统工程师”。BSC微生物群落是其发挥功能的主要成分,参与了BSC的形成、土壤性状的改善、土壤团聚体的稳定及植被的发育等过程。由于技术方法的限制,以往对BSC微生物群落发育如何调控荒漠植被稳定性的机理尚不清楚。近年来,随着土壤微生物组学技术的快速发展,BSC微生物群落组成及其功能的研究取得了较大进展,关于BSC微生物群落对荒漠生态系统贡献的认识日渐清晰。本文总结了温带荒漠BSC演替过程中微生物不同类群细菌、真菌、古菌群落的组成结构及参与碳氮循环的潜在功能变化,并对影响微生物群落结构和功能的土壤因素进行了剖析,阐释了BSC微生物群落与土壤功能性状相互作用及协同演替的模式,厘清了BSC促进荒漠土壤改善的机理,为温带荒漠植被恢复及荒漠生态系统对全球贡献的理解提供了依据。     

A phytogeographical characterization of the vine flora of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts

Aim This study presents a phytogeographical characterization of the vine flora of two lower North American desert regions as a biogeographical framework for further ecological inquiry into desert vines. Location The phytogeography of the vine flora of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts was c haracterized based on 263 known species. Methods Checklists of the vines of each desert were developed. Represented genera were then grouped into 10 phytogeographical elements based on worldwide distribution patterns. To compare the floristic composition of the desert floras, an index of species similarity was calculated. Results About a third more species of vines occur in the Sonoran Desert than in the Chihuahuan Desert. Based on the analysis, cosmopolitan genera are the only group more numerous in absolute terms in the Chihuahuan Desert than in the Sonoran Desert. Tropical elements are represented in about the same proportion in each desert as the number of species, however, nearly twice as many pantropical and neotropical genera are represented in the Sonoran Desert as in the Chihuahuan Desert. Proportionately, more genera of temperate elements occur in the Chihuahuan Desert than in the Sonoran desert, although the absolute number of genera is slightly higher in the latter. Main conclusions As these deserts are relatively recent ecological formations and as vines evolved in forest ecosystems, the composition of the desert vine floras is the result of the interaction between historical vegetation types, their constituent taxa and climatic and geological history. The main differences in the vining floras of the present‐day Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts appear to be the result of greater historical influence in the Sonoran Desert of (1) tropical vegetation types and (2) the emergence of the Gulf of California. The Chihuahuan Desert vine flora seems to be the result of (1) a more pronounced historical temperate vegetation, (2) the lack of an important isolating event, such as the creation of the Baja California peninsula, and (3) a cooler climate with shorter growing seasons.     

Decomposition rate of ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) wood in the desert of southern California and its use in estimating adult survival by life-cycle graph analysis

Dead and downed ocotillos (Fouquieria splendens) are common in the Colorado Desert of southern California and pose a question concerning the life-span of adult plants that have been reported to be long-lived: if ocotillo is long-lived, decay rates must be very slow. Our study focused on decomposition and disintegration of above-ground ocotillo wood over 14 years to obtain a rate of change in dead mass. Disintegration rate was used in a new application of life-cycle graph analysis to calculate persistence time of carcasses, which in turn was used to estimate adult survival rates. We conclude that previous estimates of life spans may be too conservative and half-life of adult shrubs is over 200 years. Our approach to estimating adult survival from decay rates provides an independent test of survival transitions based on live plants for some species and so is an additional tool for developing life cycle models.     

Effects of seed release timing on plant life-history and seed production in a population of a desert annual,shape Blepharis sindica (Acanthaceae)

Growth, phenology, survivorship, and seed production were observed in a population of a desert annual, Blepharis sindica, with reference to the variation in the timing of seedling emergence. The population consisted of several cohorts induced by rain-cued seed release within a growing season. The fate of 100 individuals of six cohorts was monitored throughout the growing season. Earlier-established cohorts had significantly larger plant sizes and higher reproductive outputs than later cohorts. The time and duration of each phenological stage varied among the cohorts, and they were also influenced by plant size. Mortalities at the seedling stage, vegetative stage, and reproductive stage increased with the delay of seed release. Seed release was concentrated in the early growing season. Fecundity was highest in the earliest cohort and decreased monotonically in later cohorts. The results suggested that even in temporally varying environments, the superiority of early emergent plants was evident. The seed release patterns in temporally fluctuating desert environments are discussed as a compromise between 'diversified bet-hedging' and an optimal timing for maximizing the reproductive success in a growing season.     

生物结皮对3种荒漠草本植物光合生理特性的影响

通过人工去除生物结皮实验，研究古尔班通古特沙漠生物结皮对3种荒漠草本植物生理特性的影响，根据生物结皮对土壤养分和水分的影响，综合分析生物结皮对3种草本植物光合生理特性的影响。结果表明，生物结皮对3种荒漠草本植物光合生理的影响基本一致，在植物生长早期，生物结皮区的尖喙牻牛儿苗（Erodium oxyrrhynchum M.Bieb.）、条叶庭荠（Alyssum linifolium Steph.ex Willd.）和琉苞菊（Hyalea pulchella（Ldb.） C.Koch）的叶片相对含水量（RWC）、净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（G_s）、蒸腾速率（E）、水分利用效率（WUE）、PSⅡ最大光化学量子效率（F_v/F_m）、PSⅡ实际光化学效率（φ_PSⅡ）和叶绿素（Chl）含量均高于去除生物结皮区；但是，在植物生长后期，却是去除生物结皮区的各项生理指标高。生物结皮对3种荒漠草本植物光合生理过程的影响与其对植物生长的影响基本一致，这与土壤养分和水分状况的变化密切相关。     

Aboveground net primary production dynamics in a northern Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem

Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) dynamics are a key element in the understanding of ecosystem processes. For semiarid environments, the pulse-reserve framework links ANPP to variable and unpredictable precipitation events contingent on surficial hydrology, soil moisture dynamics, biodiversity structure, trophic dynamics, and landscape context. Consequently, ANPP may be decoupled periodically from processes such as decomposition and may be subjected to complex feedbacks and thresholds at broader scales. As currently formulated, the pulse-reserve framework may not encompass the breadth of ANPP response to seasonal patterns of precipitation and heat inputs. Accordingly, we examined a 6-year (1999–2004), seasonal record of ANPP with respect to precipitation, soil moisture dynamics, and functional groups in a black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grassland and a creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) shrubland in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Annual ANPP was similar in the grassland (51.1 g/m²) and shrubland (59.2 g/m²) and positively correlated with annual precipitation. ANPP differed among communities with respect to life forms and functional groups and responses to abiotic drivers. In keeping with the pulse-reserve model, ANPP in black grama grassland was dominated by warm-season C₄ grasses and subshrubs that responded to large, transient summer storms and associated soil moisture in the upper 30 cm. In contrast, ANPP in creosotebush shrubland occasionally responded to summer moisture, but the predominant pattern was slower, non-pulsed growth of cool-season C₃ shrubs during spring, in response to winter soil moisture accumulation and the breaking of cold dormancy. Overall, production in this Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem reflected a mix of warm-temperate arid land pulse dynamics during the summer monsoon and non-pulsed dynamics in spring driven by winter soil moisture accumulation similar to that of cool-temperate regions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

准噶尔盆地荒漠灌丛对融雪水空间分布的反馈初探

温带荒漠的积雪沿灌丛始融,并以灌丛为中心形成融雪漏斗,导致融雪水向灌丛基部汇集。观测资料表明:通过灌丛对融雪水分布的反馈,使灌丛周围的沙层含水量明显增加,为裸沙区的152.1-228.9％,从而提高融雪水的利用率并改善灌丛自身的供水条件,对荒漠植被的分布格局亦起一定影响。     

准喀尔盆地荒漠灌丛对融雪水空间分布的反馈初探

 温带荒漠的积雪沿灌丛始融,并以灌丛为中心形成融雪漏斗,导致融雪水向灌丛基部汇集。观测资料表明：通过灌丛对融雪水分布的反馈,使灌丛周围的沙层含水量明显增加,为裸沙区的152.1一228.9%,从而提高融雪水的利用率并改善灌丛自身的供水条件,对荒漠植被的分布格局亦起一定影响。     

荒漠植物根际AM真菌的空间分布和定殖

 通过分析以色列荒漠地区Zygophyllum dumosum, Hammada scoparia, Artemisia herba-alba 和 Atriplex halimus 等4种灌木根际AM真菌的空间分布和定殖程度,研究了AM真菌分布和定殖与植物种类和土壤因子间的相关性。样品分别从0～10 cm,10～20 cm,20～30 cm,30～40 cm和40～50 cm等5个土层中采取,土样过2 mm筛。收集的根样切成1 cm根段,经染色后,根据感染长度确定AM真菌不同结构的定殖率;用湿筛倾析法和蔗     

Correspondence Analysis of species by environmental variable matrices

Abstract. Correspondence Analysis of species by environmental variables matrices is a relatively simple method for handling matrices which include many species and variables. If columns represent species and rows represent the states in which the environmental variables have been divided, each element of the matrix shows the number of releves in which the simultaneous occurrence of that species and that environmental variable state have been recorded. In this paper the use of the method for presence-absence data is considered. The method is appropriate for studies whose main purpose is to look for broad correlations between groups of environmental variables and groups of species. It is particularly useful for handling heterogeneous data sets including rare species and species-poor releves, a situation in which Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis are frequently complicated by the production of axes explaining the relationship between rare species and species-poor releves. Examples are presented with artificial data as well as with real data collected in the Mexican portion of the Chihuahuan Desert (Bolsón de Mapimi). It is shown for the Mapimi data that the method is robust to the partition of variables into different numbers of states.