放牧对呼伦贝尔草地植物和土壤生态化学计量学特征的影响

放牧通过畜体采食、践踏和排泄物归还影响草地群落组成、植物形态和土壤养分,植物通过改变养分利用策略适应环境变化。通过分析呼伦贝尔草原放牧和围封样地中的群落植物和土壤的碳氮磷养分及化学计量比,探讨放牧对生态系统化学计量学特征和养分循环速率的影响机制。结果如下:(1)群落尺度上,放牧和围封草地植物叶片C、N和P的含量没有显著差异;但是在种群尺度上,放牧草地植物叶片N含量显著高于围封草地;(2)放牧草地土壤全C、全N、有机C、速效P含量,低于围封草地,硝态N含量高于围封草地;土壤全P和铵态N指标没有显著差异;(3)放牧草地植物C∶N比显著低于围封草地,植物残体分解速率较快,提高了生态系统养分循环速率。     

放牧与围封对青藏高原草地土壤和植物叶片化学计量学特征的影响

生态化学计量可反映生态系统能量平衡和多种化学元素对生态系统的相互作用。本研究对西藏那曲放牧与围封草地土壤和优势种植物叶片C、N、P含量及化学计量特征进行了调查,以探讨不同草地利用方式对土壤和植物的影响及二者的相互作用。结果显示:放牧草地土壤p H显著高于围封草地,前者为7.30,后者为7.13;放牧草地植物叶片P含量显著高于围封草地,而C∶P显著低于围封草地,前者分别为1.25 g·kg~(-1)、335.21,后者分别为1.05 g·kg~(-1)、434.60;植物叶片C与N、P呈极显著负相关,叶片N与叶片P呈极显著正相关;叶片N含量与土壤全N不相关,叶片P含量与土壤全P含量呈显著负相关;研究区草地植物主要受P元素的限制。该结果可为青藏高原草地可持续发展提供科学依据。     

内蒙古温带草原不同放牧强度和围栏封育对凋落物分解的影响

放牧和围封通过影响植物群落结构和土壤微环境来调控草地生态系统的碳循环。该研究在内蒙古温带草原设置轻度放牧后围封、轻度放牧、重度放牧后围封、重度放牧4种样地, 通过测定干旱年(2011年)和湿润年(2012年)地上、地下凋落物产量、质量及其分解速率和土壤养分含量, 分析不同放牧强度对凋落物形成和分解的影响, 以及围栏封育对生态系统恢复的作用。结果表明: 重度放牧地上凋落物产量和分解速率均高于轻度放牧。干旱年轻度放牧样地地下凋落物产量和分解速率高于重度放牧, 湿润年相反。短期围封显著提高了凋落物产量, 轻度放牧样地围封后地上凋落物分解速率和养分循环加快, 而重度放牧样地围封后地上凋落物分解减慢。因此, 与重度放牧相比, 轻度放牧草地的恢复更适合采用围栏封育措施; 而重度放牧草地的恢复可能还需辅以必要的人工措施。降水显著促进地上、地下凋落物形成和分解。地下凋落物的生产和分解受降水年际波动影响较大, 重度放牧草地对降水变化的敏感度比轻度放牧草地高。地上凋落物分解速率与凋落物N含量显著正相关, 与土壤全N显著负相关, 与地上凋落物C:N和木质素:N相关性不大; 地下凋落物分解速率与凋落物C、C:N和纤维素含量显著负相关。该研究结果将为不同放牧强度的草地生态系统恢复和碳循环研究提供理论依据。     

放牧强度对华北农牧交错带典型草地土壤化学计量特征的短期影响

放牧是天然草地的主要利用方式之一,不同放牧强度可能通过影响家畜的选择性采食、凋落物输入和微生物的组成及结构等影响草地土壤化学计量特征。本研究通过在华北农牧交错带典型草地一个连续3年(2017—2019年)的生长季放牧试验,测定了土壤全碳(TC)、全氮(TN)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和可溶性氮(DN)含量,以及土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)和微生物生物量氮(MBN),分析这些参数间的化学计量特征,研究放牧强度对该地区草地土壤计量化学特征的影响。结果表明: 连续3年不同强度的放牧(1、2、4 sheep·0.2 hm^-2)对土壤TC含量没有显著影响,2019年中度放牧显著降低了10～20 cm土层中TN含量,轻度、中度和重度放牧显著提高10～20 cm层土壤的C/N。连续3年不同强度的放牧对土壤DOC、DN含量以及DOC/DN均没有显著影响,而DOC和DN含量在2019年呈现出随放牧强度增加而减少的趋势,表明持续高强度的放牧可能会引起土壤可溶性养分减少。随着放牧年限的增长,轻度放牧显著增加了土壤MBC,重度放牧显著降低了土壤MBC,而土壤MBN及MBC/MBN在不同放牧强度下变化不显著。     

放牧对荒漠草原克氏针茅种群和土壤生态化学计量特征的影响

该研究选取内蒙古荒漠草原,设计无牧区(NG)、中度放牧(MG)、重度放牧(HG)3个处理,测定分析不同放牧强度处理5年后,优势植物克氏针茅以及土壤的C、N、P营养元素的化学计量特征及其协同关系,以揭示放牧生态系统养分循环的影响机制,为区域草地的利用以及修复提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)轻度放牧下荒漠草原的物种多样性均显著高于中度和重度放牧条件(P<0.05)。(2)土壤中C、N含量以及C∶N、N∶P、C∶P,均随着放牧强度的增加呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,土壤P含量随放牧强度的增加而升高。(3)随放牧强度增加,克氏针茅地上部分C含量降低,N、P含量以及N∶P先升高后降低,C∶P则先减少后升高;克氏针茅地下部分的C、N含量以及N∶P一直呈增加的趋势,P含量先减少后升高,而C∶N、C∶P则是与P含量规律相反。(4)与地上部分各元素含量相比,克氏针茅地下部分各元素含量及其比值与土壤中各元素含量的相关性更高,说明放牧条件下荒漠草原优势植物的根系与其所处的土壤环境具有一定的协同变化能力。     

闽楠林土壤-凋落物-叶片碳氮磷生态化学计量对人为干扰的响应

干扰是影响森林生态系统稳定性和功能的重要因子,干扰程度直接影响天然林的生长进而影响其生态系统能量流动和养分循环过程,为此开展干扰对天然林生态系统影响研究,对于揭示干扰对天然林生态系统养分平衡特征机制具有重要意义。以福建两种人为干扰模式下(重度干扰和轻度干扰)闽楠林为研究对象,通过分析“土壤-凋落物-叶片”三个组分化学计量特征,结合养分利用效率、养分再吸收效率、内稳态理论解析干扰对闽楠林养分资源利用策略和生态适应。结果表明：(1)两种干扰模式下,叶片C、N、P含量均显著高于其土壤和凋落物,且三个组分中N和P含量均表现出重度干扰显著高于轻度干扰,但三个组分C/N、C/P和N/P呈现轻度干扰显著高于其重度干扰。(2)闽楠林叶片N、P养分利用效率表现出：重度干扰<轻度干扰,但P再吸收效率则是重度干扰高于轻度干扰,且两种干扰模式下P养分利用效率和再吸收效率显著高于N。(3)随干扰强度的增加,闽楠林叶片N呈现内稳态弱,而叶片P的内稳态强以适应低P环境。(4)凋落物与叶片两组分P、C/P、N/P存在显著正相关关系,土壤C/N分别与叶片P、C/P、N/P以及凋落物P、C/N和C/P存在显著相关关...     

中亚热带植被恢复阶段植物叶片、凋落物、土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

为揭示植被恢复过程中生态系统的养分循环机制及植物的生存策略, 根据亚热带森林群落演替过程, 采用空间代替时间方法, 以湘中丘陵区地域相邻、环境条件基本一致的檵木(Loropetalum chinensis) +南烛(Vaccinium bracteatu) +杜鹃(Rhododendron mariesii)灌草丛(LVR)、檵木+杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata) +白栎(Quercus fabri)灌木林(LCQ)、马尾松(Pinus massoniana) +柯(Lithocarpus glaber) +檵木针阔混交林(PLL)、柯+红淡比(Cleyera japonica) +青冈(Cyclobalanopsis Glauca)常绿阔叶林(LCC)作为一个恢复系列, 设置固定样地, 采集植物叶片、未分解层凋落物和0-30 cm土壤样品, 测定有机碳(C)、全氮(N)、全磷(P)含量及其化学计量比, 运用异速生长关系、养分利用效率和再吸收效率分析植物对环境变化的响应和养分利用策略。结果表明: (1)随着植被恢复, 叶片C:N、C:P、N:P显著下降, 而叶片C、N、P含量和土壤C、N含量、C:P、N:P显著增加, 其中LCC植物叶片C、N含量, 土壤C、N含量及其N:P, PLL植物叶片P含量, 土壤C:P显著高于其他3个恢复阶段, 各恢复阶段植物叶片N:P > 20, 植物生长受P限制; 凋落物C、N、P含量及其化学计量比波动较大。(2)凋落物与叶片、土壤的化学计量特征之间的相关关系较弱, 叶片与土壤的化学计量特征之间具有显著相关关系, 其中叶片C、N、P含量与土壤C、N含量、C:N (除叶片C、N含量外)、C:P、N:P呈显著正相关关系; 叶片C:N与土壤C、N含量、C:P、N:P, 叶片C:P与土壤C含量、C:N、C:P, 叶片N:P与土壤C:N呈显著负相关关系。(3)植被恢复过程中, 叶片N、P之间具有显著异速生长关系, 异速生长指数为1.45, 叶片N、P的利用效率下降, 对N、P的再吸收效率增加, LCC叶片N利用效率最低, PLL叶片P利用效率最低而N、P再吸收效率最高。(4)叶片N含量内稳态弱, 而P含量具有较高的内稳态, 在土壤低P限制下植物能保持P平衡。植被恢复显著影响叶片、凋落物、土壤C、N、P含量及其化学计量比, 叶片与土壤之间C、N、P含量及化学计量比呈显著相关关系, 植物通过降低养分利用效率和提高养分再吸收效率适应土壤养分的变化, 叶片-凋落物-土壤系统的N、P循环随着植被恢复逐渐达到“化学计量平衡”。     

农牧交错带不同土地利用类型土壤碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

为了阐明土地利用方式对土壤养分含量及土壤碳氮磷生态化学计量特征的影响,选择阴山北麓农牧交错带4种主要的土地利用类型(放牧草地、封育草地、弃耕地和耕地)为研究对象,分析了浅层土壤(0—25 cm)有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、碱解氮(AN)和速效磷(AP)含量及土壤C、N、P生态化学计量特征。结果表明:1)研究区土壤贫瘠,养分含量整体水平不高,SOC、TN、TP含量分别为14.57、0.63、0.76 g/kg,AN和AP含量分别为39.87、6.72 mg/kg,5项养分指标均为中等变异。2)土地利用方式对土壤养分含量和土壤C、N、P生态化学计量特征均存在显著的影响,草地(封育草地、放牧草地)的SOC、TN和AN含量均高于农耕地(弃耕地、耕地),而TP和AP含量低于农耕地;草地的C∶N、C∶P和C∶P值均高于农耕地。3)土壤C、N、P元素化学计量值与C、N、P元素之间的最优拟合关系显示C∶N、C∶P主要受SOC影响,C∶P主要受N影响,表明SOC和N含量决定了研究区土壤中C、N、P化学计量特征的变化过程。研究结果对丰富土壤生态化学计量学科学理论具有重要意义,同时可为阴山北麓农牧交错带脆弱生态区的生态功能恢复提供科学依据。     

辽东山区不同森林类型生态化学计量特征

森林生态系统化学计量对于阐明养分元素在生态系统中的供应状况及其耦合关系,揭示影响森林结构与功能恢复的限制性因子具有重要作用。本研究以辽东山区主要森林类型——次生阔叶混交林、柞树林、油松林和落叶松人工林、红松人工林为研究对象,通过测定叶片、凋落物和土壤的C、N、P含量,分析了不同林型的化学计量特征及差异。结果表明:1)不同林型的C、N、P含量差异显著,且各林型叶片和凋落物C、N、P含量均大于土壤;其中阔叶混交林土壤N含量最高,而柞树林土壤N含量最低。2)5种林型C∶N和C∶P变化趋势均为凋落物叶片土壤,N∶P为叶片凋落物土壤;其中叶片N∶P平均值为12.16,表明该地区植物生长可能存在N限制。阔叶混交林和柞树林与油松林、落叶松林和红松林N∶P差异显著,前者受N、P共同限制,后者受N限制。3)辽东山区森林植被叶片与凋落物的N、P、C∶N和N∶P均表现为正相关关系,土壤与叶片和凋落物N、C∶N均呈负相关关系。本研究表明,理解养分元素在"植物-凋落物-土壤"之间的生态化学计量特征,对于揭示整个森林生态系统的养分状况和生物化学循环过程极为重要。     

喀斯特高寒干旱区不同经济树种的碳氮磷钾生态化学计量特征

探讨喀斯特高寒干旱区不同经济树种碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)含量及生态化学计量特征,丰富对"内稳态理论"、"生长速率理论"和生态系统养分限制状况的理解,为改善喀斯特生态环境提供理论支撑。本文以毕节市七星关区撒拉溪示范区的刺梨(Rosa roxburghii)、核桃(Juglans regia)2种主要经济树种作为研究对象,分析比较不同经济树种的养分含量特征、生态化学计量特征以及"叶片-凋落物-土壤"C、N、P含量和计量比之间的关系。结果表明:(1)2种经济树种不同组分中,核桃叶片有机C含量最高(均值为436.73 mg/g),刺梨叶片全N、全P含量最大(均值为20.77、2.10 mg/g),全K含量则为核桃根区土壤中最丰富(均值为17.07 mg/g)。核桃根区土壤速效K含量高于刺梨,表明核桃具有较好的耐旱性。(2)刺梨N再吸收率(19.23%)显著高于核桃N再吸收率(4.05%),表明与核桃相比,刺梨根区土壤N元素匮乏。(3)生态化学计量特征总体呈现出凋落物叶片根区土壤的规律。刺梨叶片N∶P低于14,说明刺梨生长时主要受N限制。刺梨叶片C∶P、N∶P低于核桃,推测栽种年限相同时,刺梨树种生长速率高于核桃树种。凋落物N∶P表现为核桃刺梨,故核桃凋落物能保留更多养分。核桃根区土壤C∶N高于刺梨,说明核桃地保肥能力较好。(4)根区土壤全P与叶片全P呈极显著正相关,说明植物叶片中P主要来源于土壤。根区土壤全N与凋落物C∶N呈极显著正相关,可见根区土壤中N含量与凋落物分解密切相关。     

高寒草地植物群落关键种对不同放牧家畜组合放牧的响应

如何通过合理的利用方式提高高寒草地管理水平,实现其可持续利用一直是草地生态学领域的研究热点。为明确不同放牧家畜组合下高寒草地植物群落关键种的演替规律及其驱动因素,基于中等放牧强度设置了不同放牧家畜组合放牧样地（牦牛单牧、藏羊单牧、牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧、牦牛藏羊1 ： 4混牧、牦牛藏羊1 ： 6混牧）以及围封样地,并在连续放牧处理7年后系统分析了不同放牧家畜组合下植物群落特征与土壤理化性质变化,以期确定最优放牧组合。结果表明：（1）不同放牧家畜组合均会显著降低高寒草地植物盖度,但对其物种丰富度与多样性指数的影响并不显著。（2）牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧下植物群落特征与禁牧处理下植物群落特征较为相似,且牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧下的植物群落稳定性最强、组织水平最高。（3）牦牛单牧与1 ： 2混牧下关键种为矮生嵩草;藏羊单牧下关键种为天山针茅;1 ： 4混牧下关键种为星毛委陵菜;1 ： 6混牧与围封下关键种为赖草。（4）围封能够显著降低土壤容重,藏羊单牧则会显著增加土壤容重与土壤速效氮、磷含量。（5）土壤速效氮、容重与含水量是驱动不同放牧家畜组合下植物群落关键种演替的重要理化因子。综上所述,中等放牧强度下,牦牛藏羊1 ： 2混牧是青藏高原高寒草地较为理想的利用方式。此外,相较于单纯增加草地物种丰富度或多样性,建立植物群落物种之间的有效关联是提高青藏高原高寒草地管理水平的另一关键途径。     

Variation of carbon and nitrogen stoichiometry along a chronosequence of natural temperate forest in northeastern China

Aims Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stoichiometry contributes to understanding elemental compositions and coupled biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems. However, we know little about the temporal patterns of C:N stoichiometry during forest development. The goal of this study is to explore the temporal patterns of intraspecific and ecosystem components' variations in C:N stoichiometry and the scaling relationships between C and N at different successional stages.Methods Along forest development in a natural temperate forest, northeastern China, four age gradients were categorized into ca. 10-, 30-, 70- and 200-year old, respectively, and three 20 m × 20 m plots were set up for each age class. Leaves, branches, fine roots and fresh litter of seven dominant species as well as mineral soil at depth of 0–10 cm were sampled. A Universal CHN Elemental Analyzer was used to determine the C and N concentrations in all samples.Important findings Intraspecific leaf C, N and C:N ratios remained stable along forest development regardless of tree species; while C, N concentrations and C:N ratios changed significantly either in branches or in fine roots, and they varied with tree species except Populus davidiana (P < 0.05). For ecosystem components, we discovered that leaf C:N ratios remained stable when stand age was below ca. 70 years and dominant tree species were light-demanding pioneers such as Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana, while increased significantly at the age of ca. 200 years with Pinus koraiensis as the dominant species. C:N ratios in branches and fresh litter did not changed significantly along forest development stages. C concentrations scaled isometrically with respect to N concentrations in mineral soil but not in other ecosystem components. Our results indicate that, leaf has a higher intraspecific C:N stoichiometric stability compared to branch and fine root, whereas for ecosystem components, shifts in species composition mainly affect C:N ratios in leaves rather than other components. This study also demonstrated that C and N remain coupled in mineral soils but not in plant organs or fresh litter during forest development.     

Soil C:N:P stoichiometry responds to vegetation change from grassland to woodland

Woody encroachment has been a major land cover change in dryland ecosystems during the past century. While numerous studies have demonstrated strong effects of woody encroachment on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) storage, far less is known about the plasticity of soil C:N:P stoichiometry in response to woody encroachment. We assessed landscape-scale patterns of spatial heterogeneity in soil C:N:P ratios throughout a 1.2 m soil profile in a region where grassland is being replaced by a diverse assemblage of subtropical woody plants dominated by Prosopis glandulosa, an N₂-fixing tree. Woody species had leaf and fine root C:N:P ratios significantly different from grasses. Variation in soil C:N ratios in both horizontal and vertical planes was remarkably smaller than that of soil N:P and C:P ratios. Spatial patterns of soil C:N ratio throughout the profile were not strongly related to vegetation cover. In contrast, spatial patterns of soil N:P and C:P ratios displayed a strong resemblance to that of vegetation cover throughout the soil profile. Within the uppermost soil layer (0–5 cm), soil N:P and C:P ratios were higher underneath woody patches while lower within the grassland; however, this pattern was reversed in subsurface soils (15–120 cm). These results indicate a complex response of soil C:N:P stoichiometry to vegetation change, which could have important implications for understanding C, N, and P interactions and nutrient limitations in dryland ecosystems.     

Impact of herbivores on nitrogen cycling: contrasting effects of small and large species

Herbivores are reported to slow down as well as enhance nutrient cycling in grasslands. These conflicting results may be explained by differences in herbivore type. In this study we focus on herbivore body size as a factor that causes differences in herbivore effects on N cycling. We used an exclosure set-up in a floodplain grassland grazed by cattle, rabbits and common voles, where we subsequently excluded cattle and rabbits. Exclusion of cattle lead to an increase in vole numbers and a 1.5-fold increase in net annual N mineralization at similar herbivore densities (corrected to metabolic weight). Timing and height of the mineralization peak in spring was the same in all treatments, but mineralization in the vole-grazed treatment showed a peak in autumn, when mineralization had already declined under cattle grazing. This mineralization peak in autumn coincides with a peak in vole density and high levels of N input through vole faeces at a fine-scale distribution, whereas under cattle grazing only a few patches receive all N and most experience net nutrient removal. The other parameters that we measured, which include potential N mineralization rates measured under standardized laboratory conditions and soil parameters, plant biomass and plant nutrient content measured in the field, were the same for all three grazing treatments and could therefore not cause the observed difference. When cows were excluded, more litter accumulated in the vegetation. The formation of this litter layer may have added to the higher mineralization rates under vole grazing, through enhanced nutrient return through litter or through modification of microclimate. We conclude that different-sized herbivores have different effects on N cycling within the same habitat. Exclusion of large herbivores resulted in increased N annual mineralization under small herbivore grazing.     

林龄对重庆武陵山区马尾松天然次生林C、N、P生态化学计量特征的影响

在国家碳达峰和碳中和背景下，为准确评估区域植被固碳增汇功能和科学指导其经营管理，以重庆武陵山区14、25、38、45、62年生马尾松天然次生林为研究对象，对马尾松各器官（叶、枝、干、根和皮）、凋落物以及土壤C、N、P含量及其生态化学计量特征进行研究。结果表明：（1）马尾松针叶C、N、P含量分别变化在444.48-518.03 g/kg、12.31-16.15 g/kg、1.75-2.21 g/kg之间，总体呈"C适中、N缺乏及P充足"的养分格局，且马尾松生长主要受N限制。（2）马尾松各器官C、N、P生态化学计量受林龄影响及其变化规律各有不同，但不同器官差异显著（P<0.05），其中C含量以皮最大，N、P含量则以针叶最大。（3）林龄对马尾松凋落物C、N、P生态化学计量影响不显著（P>0.05）；马尾松林土壤P含量低（变化在0.09-0.41 g/kg之间），但各土层生态化学计量比却普遍较高，且受林龄影响各不相同。（4） C、N、P生态化学计量在马尾松各器官-凋落物-土壤之间总体呈显著相关性（P<0.05），其中，针叶C、N含量均与土壤N含量呈显著正相关，但针叶P含量与土壤N含量呈显著负相关。因此，对于该区域的马尾松天然次生林，应采取适当增施氮肥或林下补植固氮树种的营林措施，以提升马尾松天然次生林的固碳增汇能力。     

陕西省森林各生态系统组分氮磷化学计量特征

研究森林植被、枯落物和土壤的氮(N)磷(P)化学计量关系对于理解生态系统各组分的相互作用和养分循环具有重要意义。该研究对陕西省不同类型森林生态系统植被、枯落物和土壤的N和P含量及其化学计量关系进行了研究分析。结果表明: 1)森林生态系统各组分的N、P化学计量特征存在显著差异(p < 0.05), N、P含量均以林下灌草层植物和枯落物层较高, 乔木层植物和土壤层较低; N:P值则稍有不同, 以枯落物层最高, 土壤层最低, 其他各层差异不显著; 各组分N、P含量和N:P值分别为0.72-11.99 mg·g^-1、0.47-1.07 mg·g^-1和1.86-14.84。0-1 m土层内N含量、N:P值均随土层加深而降低(p < 0.05), P含量则不随土层发生明显变化。2)各组分N、P含量和N:P值多表现为阔叶林高于针叶林, 但其差异不显著。3)生态系统同一组分内, N、P含量间极显著正相关, N、P含量与N:P值分别呈极显著正相关、负相关关系, 但是土壤层内N、P含量无显著相关关系。各组分间, 枯落物层与乔木层、草本层和土壤层的N、P含量和N:P值也均极显著正相关, 而枯落物层与灌木层植物无显著相关关系。4)生态系统各组分N、P含量和N:P值随空间变化表现不尽一致, 总体上呈稳态。该文通过对N、P化学计量特征的研究, 揭示了森林生态系统植被、枯落物和土壤组分间所存在的养分循环联系, 这些联系中也表现出分异特征, 而分异可能由各自所执行的不同生态功能所致。     

Characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across components of forest ecosystem in Shaanxi Province

Aims Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry between vegetation, litter, and soil were important for understanding biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems, but remain poorly understood. Here, our aims were to study characteristics of N and P stoichiometry for the plant, litter, and soil and the interactions between its components across forest ecosystems in Shaanxi Province.Methods A total of 121 sampling sites, covering the most main forest types in Shaanxi, were established across the whole province in 2012. And N and P concentration of vegetation (tree and understory), litter and soil layers were measured for each site.Important findings 1) There were significant differences in the N and P stoichiometry among the forest ecosystem components (p < 0.05). N and P contents were higher in understory and litter layer, and lower in tree and soil. Whereas the N:P was slightly different, highest in litter and lowest in the soil layer, with little differences among remaining components. The contents of N, P and N:P ranged from 0.72 to11.99 mg·g^-1, 0.47 to 1.07 mg·g^-1, and 1.86 to 14.84, respectively. Within top 1 m soil layer N content and N:P decreased with soil depth (p < 0.05), however the P content did not exhibit significant changes. 2) N and P contents, and N:P of each component were higher in broadleaf forest than in coniferous forest, although the difference is not significant. 3) N was positively correlated with P content except for soil and N:P was negatively correlated with P content, but positively correlated with N content within each component. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation for N and P stoichiometric characteristics between litter layer and tree, herb, soil layer. 4) Although spatial pattern of N and P contents, and N:P differed in relation to longitude, latitude, and elevation for forest ecosystem components, a stable distribution was exhibited in general.     

Scale-Dependent Effects of Grazing on Plant C: N: P Stoichiometry and Linkages to Ecosystem Functioning in the Inner Mongolia Grassland

Background

Livestock grazing is the most prevalent land use of grasslands worldwide. The effects of grazing on plant C, N, P contents and stoichiometry across hierarchical levels, however, have rarely been studied; particularly whether the effects are mediated by resource availability and the underpinning mechanisms remain largely unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using a multi-organization-level approach, we examined the effects of grazing on the C, N, and P contents and stoichiometry in plant tissues (leaves and roots) and linkages to ecosystem functioning across three vegetation types (meadow, meadow steppe, and typical steppe) in the Inner Mongolia grassland, China. Our results showed that the effects of grazing on the C, N, and P contents and stoichiometry in leaves and roots differed substantially among vegetation types and across different hierarchical levels (species, functional group, and vegetation type levels). The magnitude of positive effects of grazing on leaf N and P contents increased progressively along the hierarchy of organizational levels in the meadow, whereas its negative effect on leaf N content decreased considerably along hierarchical levels in both the typical and meadow steppes. Grazing increased N and P allocation to aboveground in the meadow, while greater N and P allocation to belowground was found in the typical and meadow steppes. The differences in soil properties, plant trait-based resource use strategies, tolerance or defense strategies to grazing, and shifts in functional group composition are likely to be the key mechanisms for the observed patterns among vegetation types.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings suggest that the enhanced vegetation-type-level N contents by grazing and species compensatory feedbacks may be insufficient to prevent widespread declines in primary productivity in the Inner Mongolia grassland. Hence, it is essential to reduce the currently high stocking rates and restore the vast degraded steppes for sustainable development of arid and semiarid grasslands.     

生态化学计量学特征及其应用研究进展

生态化学计量学已成为生态学研究的热点问题。作为一门新兴学科,综观国内外最新研究进展,相关研究目前尚存在着许多不足。基于此,从全球与区域尺度、功能群尺度及个体水平3个方面阐述生态化学计量学特征,从空间、时间、生境和植物类型等生物与非生物因素综述生态化学计量学特征的驱动因素。并讨论生态化学计量学特征在限制性养分判断、生态系统稳定性、生长率与C:N:P关系中的应用。