早春首次降雨时间及降雨量对古尔班通古特沙漠两种短命植物形态特征与叶绿素荧光的影响

早春降雨事件是影响荒漠短命植物生长的重要因子, 为了解古尔班通古特沙漠积雪完全融化后早春首次降雨时间及降雨量对短命植物光合生长的影响。该研究选取两种优势短命植物尖喙牻牛儿苗(Erodium oxyrhinchum)和琉苞菊(Centaurea pulchella)为研究对象, 设置3个首次降雨时间(积雪完全融化后第10、20和30天)和3个降雨水平(5、10和15 mm), 探究两物种的形态、生物量及光化学效率的响应差异。结果显示: 积雪完全融化后第10天进行首次降雨处理时, 随着首次降雨量的增加, 尖喙牻牛儿苗的叶面积和总生物量呈显著增加趋势, 最大光化学效率呈下降趋势。在第20和30天进行首次降雨处理时, 尖喙牻牛儿苗和琉苞菊的叶面积均呈显著增加趋势。在积雪完全融化后5 mm降雨处理时, 随着首次降雨时间的延迟, 尖喙牻牛儿苗和琉苞菊的最大光化学效率呈先下降后上升趋势; 10 mm降雨处理时, 尖喙牻牛儿苗的冠根比降低, 根长和总生物量呈先增加后下降趋势, 琉苞菊的根长呈显著增加趋势; 15 mm降雨处理时, 尖喙牻牛儿苗的叶面积、冠根比和最大光化学效率呈显著增加趋势; 琉苞菊的冠根比和最大光化学效率呈下降趋势, 总生物量呈显著增加趋势。尖喙牻牛儿苗和琉苞菊的根长分别与0-5 cm和5-10 cm土壤含水量呈显著正相关关系。这说明早春首次降雨量比首次降雨时间更能影响植株生长, 但不同物种对降雨格局变化的响应不一致, 这可能通过影响早春短命植物的形态特征, 进而影响早春荒漠生态系统的稳定性。     

辽东山区不同林龄日本落叶松人工林土壤微生物、养分及酶活性

对辽宁省抚顺市大孤家林场11、20、34和47年生日本落叶松人工纯林表层土壤(0~5 cm)微生物群落结构、养分及酶活性进行了研究.结果表明: 土壤微生物、养分及酶活性各项指标基本呈现11或47年林龄较高,而20或34年林龄较低.随林龄增加,土壤地力呈现衰退趋势,土壤微生物群落结构及酶活性变化对地力衰退呈现响应趋势,不同林龄真菌群落结构的差异较细菌显著.典范对应分析(CCA)表明,土壤养分含量及pH值对微生物群落结构的季节变化没有影响,但对在不同林龄间微生物的变化有影响.土壤全氮、有机碳、C/N、速效氮和pH值对不同林龄细菌分布影响较大,土壤速效磷、全钾、交换性镁离子和pH值对真菌分布影响较大.细菌与真菌群落主要的T RFs片段与氮、磷的相关性都较高,而真菌群落与有机碳、钾的相关性高于细菌群落.11和47年林龄微生物群落与土壤养分、酶活性的相关性高于20与34年.因此,土壤微生物(尤其是土壤真菌)可以敏感地指示土壤肥力的变化.     

桂林会仙喀斯特湿地不同植物群落土壤养分分布差异与微生物活性特征

以桂林会仙喀斯特湿地8 种植物群落为研究对象, 分析了群落土壤含水率、pH、土壤养分(有机碳SOC、全氮TN、全钾TK、速效氮AN、速效钾AK)和微生物活性指标(微生物生物量碳MBC、微生物生物量氮MBN、土壤基础呼吸BR、土壤呼吸势PR、微生物熵qMB 和代谢熵qCO₂)的变化及其相互关系, 探讨水位梯度下不同植物群落类型对土壤养分和微生物活性特征的影响。结果表明: (1)会仙湿地大部分植物群落土壤pH 呈弱碱性, 含水量随着土层的加深而降低,且土壤pH 值和含水量随着群落积水深度的增加而升高; (2)各植物群落土壤有机碳、全氮、速效氮和速效钾含量在垂直剖面上均表现出随土壤深度的增加而减少的趋势; 土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量(除铺地黍群落外)、土壤基础呼吸和呼吸势均随着土壤深度的增加而降低, 且各土层之间差异显著(P<0.05), 而土壤微生物熵和代谢熵在垂直剖面的分布并无明显规律; (3)8 个植物群落中, 华克拉莎群落的土壤有机碳、全氮、速效氮、速效钾和微生物生物量碳氮含量、土壤基础呼吸速率和呼吸势均最高; 田间鸭嘴草群落的土壤微生物熵显著高于其它群落(P<0.05); (4)会仙湿地土壤微生物生物量碳氮、基础呼吸、呼吸势与土壤有机碳、全氮之间均呈极显著的正相关关系(P<0.01), 微生物熵和全钾、速效氮均显著正相关(P<0.05), 表明在水位梯度变化的驱动下, 会仙喀斯特湿地不同植物群落土壤养分和微生物活性特征存在差异, 土壤微生物活性特征反映了不同植物群落的环境适应和土壤质量的状况。     

杉木人工林土壤微生物生物量碳氮特征及其与土壤养分的关系

研究了湖南会同红黄壤区杉木人工林和常绿阔叶林土壤微生物量和养分状况.结果表明,该区杉木人工林取代地带性常绿阔叶林和杉木连栽后,土壤微生物碳、氮和土壤养分含量下降,土壤严重退化.在0～10 cm土层内,常绿阔叶林土壤微生物碳和氮含量为800.5和84.5 mg·kg^-1,分别是第1代杉木林的1.90和1.03倍、第2代杉木林的2.16和1.27倍;在10～20 cm土层内,常绿阔叶林土壤微生物碳和氮含量为475.4和63.3 mg·kg^-1,分别是第1代杉木纯林的1.86、1.60倍和第2代杉木林的2.11和1.76倍.在0～10 cm 和10～20cm土层内,杉木人工林取代常绿阔叶林和杉木栽植代数增加后,土壤全氮、全钾、铵态氮和速效钾含量均明显降低,但差异并不显著.人工杉木林林分组成单一,其凋落物分解慢、归还养分数量少;炼山等造成的表土流失是杉木人工林土壤微生物量和养分库退化的重要原因.土壤微生物碳与土壤全氮、铵态氮、全钾和速效钾含量呈极显著的正相关,土壤微生物氮与土壤养分含量也达到极显著水平.     

青海湖区芨芨草草原土壤养分对翻耕和补播措施的响应

为探究翻耕和补播导致高寒草原土壤养分垂直分布特征变化,以青藏高原青海湖区芨芨草(Achnather?um splendens)草原为实验对象,分析1958年翻耕和1990年补播两种不同的草地恢复措施对高寒草原土壤养分含量及分布特征(0~10,10~20,20~30,30~40,40~60 cm)的影响。结果表明:翻耕、补播措施下土壤有机碳和全钾含量均显著高于原生芨芨草样地(P<0.05),而不利于土壤全氮含量的恢复,两种扰动均有利于芨芨草草原土壤浅层(0~10 cm)速效磷、有机碳养分富集;翻耕后土壤有机碳、全氮和速效钾均随土层深度的增加而降低(P<0.05),全磷、全钾及土壤pH、容重在各土层间差异不显著。相比对照样地,补播导致各土层速效氮养分显著降低(P<0.01),但翻耕和补播扰动均使土壤全钾含量显著升高,深层土(40~60 cm)全氮(TN)含量显著降低(P<0.05);对照原生芨芨草样地,补播后土壤全氮与全磷含量出现显著正相关关系(P<0.05),而翻耕措施导致原有的速效磷与速效氮二者相关性不显著,两种措施均引起土壤养分与容重之间负相关性。翻耕、补播后土壤pH显著降低,扰动使土壤理化性质改变,以及表层速效养分汇集于浅层土壤,将加快土壤养分的周转,输出量增加促进了地上植被恢复,除全钾含量外,以上两种措施引起不同土层全量养分的恢复是一个极其缓慢过程。     

高原鼢鼠扰动及恢复年限对高寒草甸土壤养分和微生物功能多样性的影响

为了研究高原鼢鼠扰动后退化高寒草甸恢复演替的动态过程,利用常规实验室分析方法和Biolog-ECO生态板法对青藏高原东缘高寒草甸土壤养分和微生物功能多样性进行分析.结果表明: 高原鼢鼠扰动显著降低了土壤有机质、全氮、速效氮和速效磷含量,对土壤全磷和全钾含量无显著影响;在一定植被恢复年限内,土壤微生物的碳源利用率、Shannon、Pielou和McIntosh指数随着植被恢复年限的增加而升高;主成分分析表明,碳水化合物和氨基酸是土壤微生物利用的主要碳源类型;冗余分析表明,土壤pH、有机质、全氮、速效氮和全钾是影响土壤微生物代谢活性和功能多样性的主要因子.不同植被恢复年限土壤微生物功能多样性的变化可能是对地上植被、土壤微生物群落组成和土壤养分变化的响应.     

青藏高原高寒草甸不同季节土壤理化性质及酶活性对施肥处理的响应

分析了青藏高原东缘高寒草甸不同施肥处理对土壤全量养分、速效养分、pH、含水量、有机碳和土壤脲酶活性的影响,以揭示高寒草甸土壤养分和酶活性对施肥的响应。结果表明:(1)随施肥量的增加,土壤pH明显趋于降低,施肥引起高寒草甸土壤酸化;全磷、速效磷均显著增大;(2)土壤全氮、有机碳和脲酶活性随施肥量增加呈单峰曲线变化,在施肥量为30或60g·m-2时最高,施肥量增加到90g·m-2时土壤资源逐渐降低;(3)季节变化对土壤养分也有一定的影响,全氮和全磷含量均于9月份较高,而速效氮含量一般于9月份较低,而速效磷含量5月份较低;(4)施肥对土壤养分的影响并不是简单的线性正相关关系,30~60g·m-2施肥量可作为高寒草甸最佳施肥水平。施肥处理下土壤有机碳和脲酶活性可作为衡量土壤肥力和土壤质量变化的重要指标。高施肥量(≥90g·m-2)可作为影响高寒草甸土壤养分及土壤酶活性的阈值。     

扎龙季节性湿草甸土壤养分和土壤微生物特性

以扎龙自然湿地典型季节性湿草甸为试验对象,研究了土壤微生物特性和土壤养分空间分布规律及其主要影响因子.结果表明:土壤养分、微生物群落数量、微生物量碳、氮均呈现明显的垂直分布特征;土壤酶活性的空间分布因受多种因素影响而表现复杂.逐步线性回归分析表明:土壤微生物生物量碳、氮均分别与β-葡萄糖苷酶、脲酶、磷酸酶显著相关(P<0.05);有机碳与放线菌数量、过氧化氢酶活性显著相关(P<0.05);速效钾、全氮、水解性氮、C/N分别与放线菌数量、细菌数量、β-葡萄糖苷酶活性、土壤微生物生物量氮显著相关(P<0.05);全P、pH与土壤微生物活性无显著相关关系(P>0.05).采用主成分分析构建了湿地土壤养分的评价模型及微生物学预测模型.     

呼伦贝尔典型退化草原土壤理化与微生物性状

以内蒙古克鲁伦河流域呼伦贝尔典型草原为对象,设置了轻度、中度和重度退化3种类型样地,研究不同程度退化草原的物种组成、地上生物量、土壤理化性状、土壤微生物数量和酶活性,以及微生物生物量的变化.结果表明: 中度退化样地的群落物种丰富度最大,轻度退化样地的地上生物量显著高于重度退化样地.退化样地的土壤水分、养分(有机质、全氮),微生物量碳、氮,以及微生物数量和酶活性显著下降,土壤容重显著增加.退化样地的土壤微生物生物量碳、氮在128～185和5.6～13.6 g·kg^-1,土壤脱氢酶和脲酶活性均与土壤容重呈显著负相关,与土壤全氮、有机质、微生物数量以及微生物生物量碳、氮呈显著正相关,地上生物量与土壤细菌和真菌数量呈不同程度的正相关.     

外来入侵植物意大利苍耳对土壤微生物群落、土壤酶活性和土壤养分的影响

研究了不同浓度的意大利苍耳水提液(0.025, 0.1 g·mL–1)对入侵地土壤微生物群落结构、土壤酶活性和土壤养分的影响。结果表明, 意大利苍耳水提液处理使土壤中细菌数量显著增加, 真菌数量总体上呈增加趋势, 而放线菌的数量则一直低于对照(蒸馏水处理)。Biolog 分析结果显示, 不同处理下土壤的平均颜色变化率(AWCD)均显著低于对照; 对单一碳源的研究发现, 各处理下土壤微生物的主要碳源为聚合物和酚酸。水提液处理显著增加了土壤速效氮和速效钾的含量, 并且增加了土壤脲酶和蔗糖酶的活性。相关性分析表明, 土壤脲酶活性与土壤蔗糖酶活性及细菌数量三者之间呈正相关, 而土壤脲酶活性与放线菌数量呈负相关; 土壤有机质与土壤脲酶、土壤蔗糖酶和细菌数量呈正相关, 速效氮、速效钾与土壤脲酶、土壤蔗糖酶和真菌数量呈正相关。以上研究结果表明, 意大利苍耳水提液可以改变土壤微生物群落结构、土壤酶活性和土壤养分, 从而使其更加有利于自身的生长和扩张。     

Deepened snow increases late thaw biogeochemical pulses in mesic low arctic tundra

Pulses of plant-available nutrients to the soil solution are expected to occur during the dynamic winter–spring transition in arctic tundra. Our aims were to quantify the magnitude of these potential nutrient pulses, to understand the sensitivity of these pulses to winter conditions, and to characterize and integrate the environmental and biogeochemical dynamics of this period. To test the hypotheses that snow depth, temperature and soil water—and not snow nutrient content—are important controls on winter and spring biogeochemistry, we sampled soil from under ambient and deepened snow every 3 days from late winter to spring, in addition to the snowpack at the start of thaw. Soil and microbial biogeochemical dynamics were divided into distinct phases that correlated with steps in soil temperature and soil water. Soil solution and microbial pools of C, N and P fluctuated with strong peaks and declines throughout the thaw, especially under deepened snow. Snowpack nutrient accumulation was negligible relative to these biogeochemical peaks. All nutrient and microbial peaks declined simultaneously at the end of snowmelt and so this decline was delayed by 15 days under deepened snow. The timing of these nutrient pulses is critical for plant species nutrient availability and landscape nutrient budgets. This detailed and statistically-based characterisation of the winter–spring transition in terms of environmental and biogeochemical variables should provide a useful foundation for future biogeochemical process-based studies of thaw, and indicate that spring thaw and possibly growing season biogeochemical dynamics are sensitive to present and future variability in winter snow depth.     

Limited effects of early snowmelt on plants,decomposers, and soil nutrients in Arctic tundra soils

In addition to warming temperatures, Arctic ecosystems are responding to climate change with earlier snowmelt and soil thaw. Earlier snowmelt has been examined infrequently in field experiments, and we lack a comprehensive look at belowground responses of the soil biogeochemical system that includes plant roots, decomposers, and soil nutrients. We experimentally advanced the timing of snowmelt in factorial combination with an open‐top chamber warming treatment over a 3‐year period and evaluated the responses of decomposers and nutrient cycling processes. We tested two alternative hypotheses: (a) Early snowmelt and warming advance the timing of root growth and nutrient uptake, altering the timing of microbial and invertebrate activity and key nutrient cycling events; and (b) loss of insulating snow cover damages plants, leading to reductions in root growth and altered biological activity. During the 3 years of our study (2010–2012), we advanced snowmelt by 4, 15, and 10 days, respectively. Despite advancing aboveground plant phenology, particularly in the year with the warmest early‐season temperatures (2012), belowground effects were primarily seen only on the first sampling date of the season or restricted to particular years or soil type. Overall, consistent and substantial responses to early snowmelt were not observed, counter to both of our hypotheses. The data on soil physical conditions, as well interannual comparisons of our results, suggest that this limited response was because of the earlier date of snowmelt that did not coincide with substantially warmer air and soil temperatures as they might in response to a natural climate event. We conclude that the interaction of snowmelt timing with soil temperatures is important to how the ecosystem will respond, but that 1‐ to 2‐week changes in timing of snowmelt alone are not enough to drive season‐long changes in soil microbial and nutrient cycling processes.     

模拟践踏和降水对高寒草甸土壤养分和酶活性的影响

为明晰牦牛和藏羊践踏对高寒草甸的分异影响,通过2年模拟践踏和降水双因子控制试验,研究了践踏和降水对高寒草甸土壤养分和酶活性的影响。研究结果表明,践踏处理提高了0—20 cm土层土壤速效氮和速效钾含量,降低了0—20 cm全磷、脲酶和0—10 cm速效磷、碱性磷酸酶和有机质含量,且适度践踏促进了全氮的矿化。随降水强度的增加,0—30 cm土层土壤全氮和0—20 cm全磷和脲酶活性呈单峰曲线的变化态势,在平水下达到峰值;降水显著降低了0—30 cm土层土壤速效氮、磷、钾和0—10 cm土层土壤全钾含量,对土壤有机质含量无显著影响(P0.05)。同一放牧强度下,藏羊践踏区的土壤养分和酶活性优于牦牛践踏区,但差异不显著(P0.05)。综合可得,家畜的践踏作用促进了土壤氮和钾的矿化,抑制了磷的累积且加速了表层土壤有机质的耗竭,降低了土壤脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性;适度降水提高了土壤全氮、全磷含量及酶活性,降水过多则相反。适度的家畜践踏与降水相耦合下草地土壤的养分循环和酶活性要优于重度践踏和不践踏小区。在对草地的适度放牧利用前提下,应注重土壤含水量和放牧畜种对草地的影响。草地干旱或土壤含水量过高时,应适当减少放牧畜种中牦牛比例增加藏羊比例,以期使草地得到健康可持续发展。     

Climate change alters temporal dynamics of alpine soil microbial functioning and biogeochemical cycling via earlier snowmelt

Soil microbial communities regulate global biogeochemical cycles and respond rapidly to changing environmental conditions. However, understanding how soil microbial communities respond to climate change, and how this influences biogeochemical cycles, remains a major challenge. This is especially pertinent in alpine regions where climate change is taking place at double the rate of the global average, with large reductions in snow cover and earlier spring snowmelt expected as a consequence. Here, we show that spring snowmelt triggers an abrupt transition in the composition of soil microbial communities of alpine grassland that is closely linked to shifts in soil microbial functioning and biogeochemical pools and fluxes. Further, by experimentally manipulating snow cover we show that this abrupt seasonal transition in wide-ranging microbial and biogeochemical soil properties is advanced by earlier snowmelt. Preceding winter conditions did not change the processes that take place during snowmelt. Our findings emphasise the importance of seasonal dynamics for soil microbial communities and the biogeochemical cycles that they regulate. Moreover, our findings suggest that earlier spring snowmelt due to climate change will have far reaching consequences for microbial communities and nutrient cycling in these globally widespread alpine ecosystems.Subject terms: Metagenomics, Climate-change ecology, Microbial ecology, Biogeochemistry, Soil microbiology     

火烧对古尔班通古特沙漠土壤养分和土壤酶活性的影响

以古尔班通古特沙漠2016年6月意外火烧事件为背景,对比分析火烧和未火烧样地区不同土壤深度化学性质、土壤酶活性的变化特征,为全面评估火烧对温带荒漠生态系统的影响提供土壤学依据。结果表明:火烧样地和对照样地土壤养分含量和酶活性总体上均表现为上层土壤(0—5 cm)大于下层土壤(5—10 cm),仅土壤氧化酶(过氧化氢酶)活性表现为下层土壤大于上层土壤。同时,火烧和土壤深度存在交互效应,火烧对土壤特性的影响受土壤深度的限制。土壤化学性质受火烧的影响主要表现在0—5 cm土壤层,尤其是速效养分在火烧之后有显著增加趋势。火烧对5—10 cm土壤层土壤化学性质无显著影响。火烧后,硝态氮(NO3-N)含量显著下降,铵态氮(NH4-N)含量上升。土壤水解酶、氧化酶活性在火烧之后降低,具体表现为,蔗糖酶、脲酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶活性在0—5 cm和5—10 cm土壤层均极显著下降,而碱性磷酸酶活性仅在0—5 cm土壤层显著下降。过氧化氢酶活性则在5—10 cm土壤层活性显著下降。表明上层土壤水解酶活性对火烧干扰较为敏感,氧化酶活性在火烧干扰下相对稳定。从各土层土壤酶活性的变化特征来看,火烧对水解酶活性的影响随土壤深度增加而降低,而氧化酶则呈现相反的趋势。总体而言,火烧显著提高了古尔班通古特沙漠土壤速效养分的含量,降低了土壤酶活性,不同土壤酶对火烧响应的敏感程度不同。为深入评估火烧干扰对温带荒漠生态系统的影响提供一定理论依据。     

准噶尔盆地两种荒漠群落土壤呼吸速率对人工降水的响应

通过野外定位观测准噶尔盆地荒漠植物群落(假木贼群落和盐穗木群落)在不同人工模拟降水强度下的土壤呼吸、土壤温度和湿度动态,探讨了荒漠群落土壤呼吸速率对降水后土壤增湿的响应.结果发现两种荒漠植物群落的土壤呼吸速率均出现了模拟降水后10min减小、随后逐渐增加、达到最大值后再次衰减的现象.降水处理的土壤呼吸速率最大值出现滞后于对照处理,且呼吸速率最大值及最大值后的递减速率普遍高于对照.降水后土壤呼吸速率变化受温度和土壤湿度共同影响,降水后10min土壤呼吸速率的减小与土壤湿度最大值同步,呼吸速率最大值出现时间与地表温度一致,在降水后180～300min.2类群落3种降水处理间的土壤呼吸速率在模拟降水后(0～450min时段)均未达到显著差异.假木贼群落以5mm降水处理的平均土壤呼吸速率最大,盐穗木群落则以2.5mm 处理最大.土壤呼吸速率对模拟降水的响应受降水量、降水前土壤湿润状况、土壤质地等多种因素影响.     

模拟降雨下喀斯特坡耕地土壤养分输出机制

喀斯特区坡耕地水土及养分流失不仅是该区土地质量退化、土地生产力衰退主要原因,同时也是该区地下水质污染的重要因素。为揭示喀斯特坡耕地地表和地下二元空间结构下的土壤养分流失机制,以喀斯特坡耕地为研究对象,通过模拟其地表微地貌及地下孔(裂)隙构造特征,采用人工模拟降雨试验研究不同雨强下喀斯特坡耕地地表及地下水土及其氮、磷、钾流失特征。结果表明:(1)小雨强(50mm/h)和中雨强下(70mm/h),喀斯特坡耕地坡面产流主要以地下产流为主;大雨强下(90mm/h),地表径流高于地下径流;产沙方式则表现为由小雨的地表和地下产沙并重到中大雨强的地表产沙为主的一个转变过程。(2)在降雨侵蚀过程中,径流各养分输出浓度均表现出一定的初期冲刷效应,受土壤吸附作用影响,雨强对全钾(TK)和全氮(TN)的影响较全磷(TP)明显。(3)地表径流、地表泥沙和总泥沙各养分输出负荷均随雨强增大而增加,坡面径流泥沙总的TK输出负荷以泥沙为主,而TN和TP输出负荷则以径流为主;TP和TN在径流的输出负荷上以地下径流输出为主(其中TP地表负荷比在11.6%—46.2%,TN在7.0%—48.5%之间),而TK则以二者并重(地表负荷比在43.5%—57.0%之间);各养分在泥沙的输出负荷上则均以地表泥沙流失为主,其负荷比均在54.5%以上。研究结果可为喀斯特区坡耕地水土流失及养分流失的源头控制提供基本参数和科学依据。     

Restoration potential of threatened ecosystem engineers increases with aridity: broad scale effects on soil nutrients and function

Species extinctions alter ecosystem services, and the magnitude of this impact is likely to change across environmental gradients. In Australia, soil‐disturbing mammals that are now considered ecologically extinct are thought to be important ecosystem engineers. Previous studies have demonstrated microsite‐level impacts of reintroduced soil‐disturbing mammals on soil functions, but effects are yet to be tested across larger scales. Further, it is unclear how impacts vary across environmental gradients and if the restoration potential of reintroductions changes with climate. We examined the effects of soil‐disturbing mammal reintroductions across a large rainfall gradient in Australia to test the hypothesis that ecosystem engineering effects on soil function depend on climate. We compared soil labile carbon, available nitrogen and the activity of four enzymes associated with nutrient cycling in three microsite types with and without soil‐disturbing mammals in five sites along a large rainfall gradient (166–870 mm). Soil enzyme activity was greatest in the presence of soil‐disturbing mammals and increased with rainfall, but soil available carbon and nitrogen varied across the gradient and among microsites. Microsite effects were often stronger than any effects of soil‐disturbing mammals, with soil beneath vegetated patches (shrubs and trees) having greater enzyme activity, carbon and nitrogen than bare soils. However, soil‐disturbing mammals homogenised nutrient distributions across microsites. The impacts of soil‐disturbing mammals on soil function previously detected at micro‐scales was detected at a landscape‐scale. However, the overall effects of soil‐disturbing mammals on soil functions varied with productivity (rainfall). The context of soil‐disturbing mammal reintroductions is thus likely to be critical in determining their effectiveness in restoring soil function.     

The Role of Snowmelt and Spring Rainfall in Inorganic Nutrient Fluxes from a Large Temperate Watershed, the Androscoggin River Basin (Maine and New Hampshire)

The importance of snowmelt and spring rainfall to water and nutrient exports from macro-scale watersheds (>1000 km²) is not well established. Data collected from the Androscoggin River watershed (Maine and New Hampshire) between February 1999 and March 2002 show that the 90-day spring melt period accounted for 39–57% of total annual discharge and is likely driven both by snowpack melting and spring rainfall. While large loads of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) are delivered to the watershed from snowmelt and rain (from 1.16× 10⁶ to 1.61× 10⁶ kg N over the study years), only one third of this N load is exported from the basin during the snowmelt period (0.40× 10⁶–0.48 × 10⁶ kg N). Despite reduced residence time and temperature limitations on biological N retention, there is a poor mass balance between DIN input to the watershed and the nitrogen exported from mouth of the river. Inferences from a geochemical hydrograph separation suggests that approximately 51–63% of the water leaving the mouth of the Androscoggin river is from these ‘new’ water sources (rain and snowmelt) while 37–49% is from DIN depleted soil and groundwater. Mixing of water from different sources, as well as nutrient retention by dams in the upper watershed, may account for the large discrepancy between DIN inputs and exports from this watershed.     

氮沉降与降雨变化下中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的影响

土壤动物是凋落物分解、养分转化过程的重要调节者,全球变化驱动的氮沉降与降雨变化通过改变其分解环境和土壤动物群落结构,进而影响凋落物分解进程。为了探究中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献受氮沉降和降雨变化的影响,本研究利用不同网孔(2 mm和0.01 mm)的凋落物分解网袋法,以建群种短花针茅为研究对象进行野外分解试验。试验采用裂区设计,主区为自然降雨(CK)、增雨30%(W)和减雨30%(R)3个水分处理,副区为0(N₀)、30(N₃₀)、50(N₅₀)和100(N₁₀₀) kg·hm^-2·a^-1 4个氮素处理。结果表明: 1)降雨变化显著影响了凋落物的分解速率,增雨处理中凋落物的分解速率加快,且随着氮添加浓度的升高,凋落物重量残留率逐渐降低,100 kg·hm^-2·a^-1时分解速度最快;在减雨处理与对自然降雨处理中凋落物的分解速率则呈先降低后升高的趋势,在50 kg·hm^-2·a^-1时分解速度最快。氮沉降和降雨变化对凋落物分解无显著的交互作用。2)在整个分解过程中,共捕获中小型土壤动物1577只,隶属于1门3纲13目(含亚目)49科,优势类群为蜱螨目、鞘翅目幼虫和弹尾目;增雨施氮提升了中小型土壤动物群落的类群数和个体数。3)凋落物重量残留率与中小型土壤动物类群数、个体数均呈极显著负相关,增雨处理整体提高了中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献率。综上,荒漠草原上中小型土壤动物对凋落物的分解具有积极作用,且水分和氮素输入的增加提高了中小型土壤动物的类群数及个体数,增加了其对凋落物分解的贡献;在水分不足时,过量的氮素会抑制中小型土壤动物群落的发展,导致中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献降低。