高原鼠兔干扰下高寒草甸植物功能群分布与土壤因子的关系

为阐明高原鼠兔干扰下高寒草甸植物功能群分布及其与土壤因子的关系,以高原鼠兔有效洞口密度代表其干扰强度,在青藏高原东缘高寒草甸选择3个不同干扰强度的高原鼠兔栖息区,调查植物群落结构和土壤理化性质,并分析高原鼠兔干扰下二者之间的关系.结果表明:(1)随高原鼠兔干扰强度增加,植物群落平均高度增加、盖度下降;(2)植物功能群多样性指数下降,其中莎草科和杂类草功能群多样性指数下降显著;(3)土壤有机质和全磷含量显著增加,土壤pH和土壤紧实度显著下降(P<0.05);(4)通过冗余分析和偏冗余分析,土壤化学因子(土壤全磷和全钾)的总效应和净效应达到极显著水平,表明高原鼠兔干扰下高寒草甸植物功能群分布与土壤全磷和全钾含量显著相关(P<0.05).     

高原鼠兔对高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸的干扰

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)的穴居和啃食活动改变土壤养分含量、微生物群落、团聚体结构和孔隙度, 干扰生态系统土壤CO2排放, 对生态系统碳循环产生重要影响。为了研究高原鼠兔干扰下的高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸动态, 实验设计了高原鼠兔实验组和自然对照组, 采用LI-8100A土壤呼吸测量系统在2018年的生长季监测了高原鼠兔干扰下的土壤呼吸、土壤温度及土壤含水量, 分析了高原鼠兔对高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸的影响。实验发现: (1)在高原鼠兔活动干扰下土壤呼吸速率增加了9.58%(高原鼠兔实验组的土壤呼吸速率值为5.27 µmol·m-2·s-1, 自然对照组为5.22 µmol·m-2·s-1, P<0.05), (2)在高原鼠兔干扰下高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸对土壤温度的敏感程度(Q10)降低了21.02%; (3)土壤呼吸变化深受5 cm土壤温度变化的影响(P<0.05)。研究结果表明高原鼠兔活动深刻干扰高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸, 影响高寒沼泽草甸生态系统碳循环。因此, 在全球气候变暖的背景下, 加强高原鼠兔活动对高寒沼泽草甸土壤碳排放的干扰研究具有重要的科学与现实意义。     

滇西北高原纳帕海湿地植物多样性与土壤肥力的关系

采用植物群落研究法与原状土就地取样技术,研究了滇西北高原典型退化湿地纳帕海植物多样性、土壤养分、酶活性格局特征及其相互关系.随着湿地原生沼泽向沼泽化草甸、草甸的演替,湿地植物群落盖度增加、物种组成增多,群落优势种优势度减小,伴生种数量增加,植物多样性呈增加趋势;湿地土壤有机质、全氮含量不断减少,过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶活性增加,脲酶活性降低.植物α多样性指数(辛普森、香浓-维纳指数)与湿地土壤有机质、全氮含量呈负相关,与土壤过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶活性呈正相关,与脲酶活性呈负相关;土壤有机质、全氮含量与过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶活性呈一致负相关,与脲酶活性则成正相关.湿地景观在一定程度上反映了人为生产活动干扰的类型与强度,其植物多样性、土壤养分和酶活性特征及其相互关系是湿地生态系统演替过程中时空间体现,研究结果揭示了人为干扰下湿地退化的生态学过程及机理,可为我国高原湿地生物多样性保护,退化湿地生态恢复与湿地资源可持续利用提供一定的理论依据.     

高寒草甸鼠兔活动对土壤微生物群落特征的影响

高原鼠兔活动严重影响了高寒草甸生态系统的多样性及稳定性, 土壤微生物对环境变化高度敏感, 其群落特征受到了高原草甸鼠兔活动的显著影响。为探究鼠兔活动对土壤微生物群落结构及多样性的影响, 本实验以青海湖高寒草甸鼠兔活动干扰下的土壤微生物为研究对象, 基于细菌16s rRNA进行高通量测序。不同处理下的土壤细菌的优势菌群相似, 主要包括变形菌门和酸杆菌门。与自然状态下的高寒草甸相比, 鼠兔活动下的土壤细菌群落丰富度显著增加, 多样性指数显著降低 (P < 0.05)。鼠兔活动显著影响了土壤细菌的群落结构 (P < 0.05), 对照与鼠兔活动分组间存在104个差异菌群, 鼠兔活动下的亚表层土壤 (10—20 cm) 仅有3个菌群相对丰度显著升高, 鼠兔活动下的表层土壤 (0—10 cm) 则存在52个差异菌群。FAPROTAX预测分析表明, 土壤细菌群落功能基团多为碳氮代谢相关的功能基团, 另有部分与无氧呼吸途径及人类疾病有关。总体而言, 鼠兔活动显著影响了高寒草甸土壤细菌的群落结构及多样性特征, 且表层土壤的细菌群落对鼠兔活动的响应更为明显。     

高原鼠兔挖掘活动对土壤中氮素含量的影响

本文通过测定不同类型高原鼠兔鼠丘和鼠丘下0 ～ 10 cm 土壤中总氮、铵态氮和硝态氮的含量变化,分析了高原鼠兔挖掘活动对土壤中无机氮含量的影响,并通过测定高原鼠兔鼠丘密度,计算了每只高原鼠兔对氮素循环的贡献。研究结果表明:不同类型鼠丘土壤中总氮含量无明显变化,铵态氮、硝态氮和无机氮含量处理间变化趋势为当年鼠丘>两年鼠丘> 多年鼠丘> 对照。方差分析结果表明,硝态氮含量在5 月时差异显著,当年鼠丘和两年鼠丘显著大于多年鼠丘和对照,无机氮含量在5 月和9 月表现为当年鼠丘显著高于对照。在不同月份,铵态氮含量月间变化趋势为5 ～ 8 月逐渐降低,至9 月略有增加,硝态氮和无机氮含量呈现“高- 低- 高-低- 高”的“W”变化趋势。方差分析结果显示,铵态氮、硝态氮和无机氮含量月间变化显著。不同类型鼠丘下0 ～ 10 cm 土壤中铵态氮、硝态氮和无机氮含量处理间和月份间变化趋势与鼠丘土壤中变化趋势基本一致,但硝态氮和无机氮含量在当年鼠丘中均显著高于对照,且不同月份间铵态氮、硝态氮和无机氮的含量差异显著(P
< 0.05)。每只高原鼠兔挖掘活动所形成的鼠丘土壤中的铵态氮、硝态氮和无机氮分别增加了162.6 mg/ kg、355.1 mg/kg 和497.7 mg/ kg。     

高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高山嵩草群落及其主要种群空间分布特征的影响

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)有效洞穴密度变化会引发高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸植物群落及其种群分布格局发生变化。采用野外调查法研究了高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高山嵩草群落特征及其主要种群分布格局的影响。结果表明:随高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度增加,高山嵩草草甸植物群落的优势种没发生明显变化,部分伴生种发生更替;高度、盖度、多样性指数和均匀度指数呈现降低态势;地上生物量和丰富度指数变化不明显;高山嵩草和矮火绒草(Leontopodium nanum)种群的盖度、密度以及生物量均呈现降低态势,而达乌里秦艽(Gentiana dahurica)和小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis var.flore-minors)种群的盖度、密度和生物量呈增加趋势。高山嵩草和矮火绒草的种群分布格局从8个/625m2和14个/625m2的聚集分布分别变为34个/625m2时的均匀分布和随机分布,达乌里秦艽和小花草玉梅种群从8个/625m2和14个/625m2的随机分布变为23个/625m2和34个/625m2时的聚集分布,这说明高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度变化改变了高山嵩草群落的特征和主要植物种群的空间分布格局,而对应群落特征和种群分布格局改变的有效洞穴密度为14个/625m2和23个/625m2。     

高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对青藏高原高寒草甸群落植物生态位的影响

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)有效洞穴密度扩增会引起高寒草甸植物群落组分的变化。采用野外调查方法研究了高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对青藏高原高寒草甸群落植物生态位的影响。结果表明:随高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度增加,样方内植物种数逐渐增多,但主要是毒杂草,有效洞穴密度超过15个/625m2时豆科植物出现。优势种高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)的重要值随有效洞穴密度增加呈单峰曲线,峰值出现在15个/625m2。有效洞穴密度低于或等于21个/625m2时,优势种高山嵩草生态位宽度位居第一,但有效洞穴密度达31个/625m2时,其生态位宽度降至并列第三,低于小米草(Euphrasia pectinata)和钝裂银莲花(Anemone obtusiloba),等同于小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis)和乳浆大戟(Euphorbia esula)。有效洞穴密度分别为10个/625m2,15个/625m2,21个/625m2,31个/625m2时,与高山嵩草生态位重叠度最大的物种分别为莓叶委陵菜(Potentilla fragarioides)、圆叶筋骨草(Ajuga ovalifolia)、乳浆大戟、条叶垂头菊(Cremanthodium lineare)。有效洞穴密度为10个/625m2时,高山嵩草是群落内种群间竞争最激烈的一方,但有效洞穴密度超过或等于15个/625m2时,高山嵩草则退出了种群间竞争最激烈的双方。说明高原鼠兔有效密度增加严重影响了高寒草甸群落组分、重要值、生态位宽度和生态位重叠值。     

高原鼠兔干扰对高寒草甸β多样性的影响

β多样性反映生物群落沿某一环境梯度的物种周转速率, 该研究尝试采用β多样性揭示植物群落随小型啮齿草食动物干扰梯度变化的生态过程。该研究利用野外随机样地的采集数据, 分析了高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)不同干扰强度下Whittaker指数的变化特征, 并利用群落二元丰富度的方差分解法, 确定了单个物种(SCBD)和单个干扰位点(LCBD)对β多样性的贡献。主要结果: 随高原鼠兔干扰强度增加, 植物群落内物种周转速率呈先增加后降低的趋势; 占据位点数居中的物种对区域内的β多样性贡献较大, 其中冰草(Agropyron cristatum)、臭蒿(Artemisia hedinii)、小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis var. flore-minore)等单个物种对整个区域内β多样性的贡献最为突出; 整个区域内干扰位点T₀ (高原鼠兔干扰强度为0)对区域β多样性贡献值最大, LCBD值和该位点的群落丰富度呈显著负相关关系, 但与高原鼠兔干扰强度无显著关联。说明重点保护LCBD值高的干扰位点所在的高寒草甸, 以及SCBD值较高的冰草、臭蒿、小花草玉梅, 对保护高原鼠兔存在时高寒草甸植物群落多样性具有重要意义。     

高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高寒草甸优势植物叶片和土壤氮磷化学计量特征的影响

采用有效洞穴密度代替高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)活动强度的方法,研究了高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度(10、15、21和31个/625 m~2)对高寒草甸优势植物高山嵩草(Kobresiapygmaea)、垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)、小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis)叶片和土壤氮(N)磷(P)化学计量特征的影响。结果表明,3种优势植物叶片N含量随有效洞穴密度增加而显著增加(P0.05),但叶片P含量却出现分异,表现为高山嵩草和垂穗披碱草叶片P含量随有效洞穴密度增加而先增加后降低(P0.05),小花草玉梅叶片P含量逐渐增加(P0.05);高山嵩草叶片N:P随有效洞穴密度增加先降低后增加(P0.05),垂穗披碱草叶片N:P逐渐增加,小花草玉梅叶片N:P则先增加后降低。土壤0-10 cm和10-20 cm土层N含量随有效洞穴密度增加无明显变化;0—10cm土层P含量随有效洞穴密度增加先降低后增加,10—20 cm土层P含量逐渐降低;0—10 cm土层N:P随有效洞穴密度增加元明显变化,而10-20 cm土层N:P则逐渐增加。优势植物叶片N、P、N:P与土壤N、P、N:P的相关性受植物根系分布特征和生存微环境的约束。     

氮沉降下纳帕海草甸植被与土壤变化对微生物生物量碳氮的影响

为探明高原草甸土壤微生物对短期氮沉降的响应,以纳帕海典型高寒草甸云雾薹草群落为对象,野外原位布设低氮(5 g N·m^-2·a^-1)、中氮(10 g N·m^-2·a^-1)和高氮(15 g N·m^-2·a^-1)3种施氮处理,研究氮沉降引起高寒草甸植物多样性及土壤性质变化对微生物生物量碳氮的影响。结果表明：氮添加显著增加土壤微生物生物量碳氮及其熵值,中氮处理下微生物生物量碳增量最高,达139.3%;微生物生物量碳氮的垂直变化表现为沿土层显著降低,降幅为24.1%～75.1%。氮添加显著提高群落地上生物量,降低Shannon和Simpson多样性,变幅达6.6%～65.4%;氮添加显著降低土壤pH,增加土壤有机质、全氮、铵态氮和硝态氮含量,且在中氮处理下变幅(7.0%～511.1%)最大;土壤pH随土层加深而增大,而其他理化指标则沿土层加深而显著减少,变幅达19.5%～91.2%。结构方程模型表明,土壤铵态氮、硝态氮和有机质对微生物生物量起促进作用,而土壤pH和植...     

Effect of available burrow densities of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) on soil physicochemical property of the bare land and vegetation land in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The available burrow densities of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) regulate the soil physicochemical property in alpine meadow. A field survey was conducted to investigate the effect of available burrow densities of plateau pika on soil physicochemical property of bare land (bare patch produced by burrowing behavior of plateau pika) and vegetation land (land covered with vegetation). This study indicated that the increase in available burrow of plateau pika caused the soil water content at 0–10 cm layer of bare land and that at 10–20 cm of vegetation land to reduce, and caused the soil water content at 10– 20 cm layer of bare land and that at 0–10 cm layer of vegetation land to firstly increase and then decline. In the increasing process of available burrow of plateau pika, the soil silt content firstly increased and then decreased, and soil sand content firstly decreased and then increased. With the increase of available burrow of plateau pika, the soil porosity at 0–10 cm layer of bare land and that at 10–20 cm layer of vegetation land decreased, while the soil porosity at 10–20 cm layer of bare land and that at 0–10 cm of vegetation land firstly increased and then decreased. Soil pH value, soil organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus content firstly increased and then decreased, peaking at 14 available burrows per 625 m², while total soil potassium content did not respond to available burrow densities of plateau pika. This study suggested that the proper available burrows existing in the alpine meadow increased soil permeability, accelerated soil moisture to penetrate deeply, increased the proportion of soil silt, and improved the soil nutrient; however, this beneficial effect was strongly influenced by the available burrow density of plateau pika, implying that plateau pika did not benefit soil structure when its available burrow was over 34 number/625 m².     

Response of alpine meadow communities to burrow density changes of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is a key component of alpine meadow ecosystem in the Qinghai- Tibetan Plateau, and the increase of its number leads plant components of alpine meadow ecosystem to adaptively response. A field survey was carried out to determine the response of alpine meadow community to population densities of plateau pika by using available burrow density to replace the population density of plateau pika. This study showed that the height of alpine meadow communities gradually increased, and the cover of alpine meadow communities firstly decreased, and then increased as the available burrow density increased. With the increase of available burrow density, the richness index of alpine meadow communities firstly decreased and then increased, and the evenness index of alpine meadow communities firstly increased and then decreased, however, the diversity index of alpine meadow communities firstly increased, and then decreased, finally increased. In the increasing process of available burrow density, the total plant biomass and the unpalatable plant biomass firstly decreased and then increased, and the palatable plant biomass firstly increased and then decreased, indicating that the palatable plant biomass was the highest and the unpalatable plant biomass was the lowest at 14 available burrow per 625 m². In the economic groups of plant biomass, the weed biomass was the highest and the legume biomass was the lowest at any available burrow densities, and the grass biomass and the sedge biomass were related to available burrow densities, indicating that the sedge biomass were bigger than the grass biomass at 3 available burrow per 625 m², inverse at 54 available burrow per 625 m², similar between 3 and 34 available burrow per 625 m². Accompanying by the increase of available burrow densities, the legume biomass and the sedge biomass significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and the legume became disappearance at 54 available burrow per 625 m²; the grass biomass firstly increased and then decreased, peaking at 14 available burrow per 625 m². The weed biomass firstly decreased and then increased, and was the lowest at 14 available burrow per 625 m². This study suggested that the responses of alpine meadow communities to population density of plateau pika at 14 available burrows per 625 m² were more sensitive than that at other available burrow per 625 m² from plant species diversity, biomass, height, cover and economic group.     

Effects of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) on net ecosystem carbon exchange of grassland in the Three Rivers Headwaters region, Qinghai-Tibet, China

Background and aim

Because the indigenous burrowing lagomorph plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is considered to have negative ecological impacts on alpine meadow steppe grasslands of the Headwaters Region of the Yellow, Yangtze and Mekong Rivers we investigated its effects on ecosystem productivity and soil properties, and especially net ecosystem carbon flux.

Methods

We measured net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) and its components gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) at peak aboveground biomass by the chamber method with reference to plant and soil characteristics of areas of alpine meadow steppe with different densities of pika burrows.

Results

Higher burrow density decreased NEE, GEP and ER. Above-ground biomass, species number, plant cover and leaf area index decreased with increasing pika density. Higher burrow density was associated with lower soil moisture and higher soil temperature. Responses of NEE were related to changes of abiotic and biotic factors affecting its two components. NEE was positively related to soil moisture, soil ammonium nitrogen, plant cover, leaf area index and above-ground biomass but was negatively correlated with higher soil nitrate nitrogen.

Conclusion

Decrease of NEE by plateau pika may reduce the carbon sink balance of Qinghai-Tibet plateau grassland. Such effects may be influenced by grazing pressure from domestic livestock, population levels of natural predators, and climate change.     

Relationships among soil fertility,native plant diversity and exotic plant abundance inform restoration of forb‐rich eucalypt woodlands

Aim Water and nutrient availability are major limits to productivity in semi‐arid ecosystems; hence, ecological restoration often focuses on conserving or concentrating soil resources. By contrast, nutrient enrichment can promote invasion by exotic annuals, leading to restoration approaches that target reduction of soil nutrients. We aimed to explore potential biodiversity trade‐offs between these approaches by investigating relationships among soil nutrients, exotic annuals and native plant diversity and composition. In particular, we investigated the hypothesis that native plant diversity in semi‐arid to temperate woodlands reflects the productivity–diversity hypothesis, leading to hump‐backed relationships with soil nutrients such that (1) native plant diversity declines with increasing nutrient enrichment and (2) native diversity is limited at the lowest levels of soil fertility. Location Fragmented, long‐ungrazed Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba (York gum)–Acacia acuminata (jam) woodlands in the wheatbelt of South‐Western Australia. Methods We conducted stratified surveys of floristic composition and topsoil nutrient concentrations in 112 woodland patches. We used generalized linear models, structural equation models and ordinations to characterize relationships among soil nutrients, rainfall, exotic annuals and patch‐scale (100 m²) native plant composition and diversity. Results Patch‐scale native plant diversity declined strongly with increasing exotic abundance. This was partly related to elevated soil nutrient concentrations, particularly total nitrogen and available phosphorus. By contrast, there was little evidence for positive correlations between soil nutrients and native diversity, even at very low soil nutrient concentrations. Main conclusions Minimizing weed invasions is crucial for maximizing native plant diversity in E. loxophleba woodlands and could include nutrient‐depleting treatments without substantially compromising the functional capacity of soils to maintain native plant richness and composition. More broadly we emphasize that understanding relationships among ecosystem productivity, plant diversity and exotic invasions in the context of associated theoretical frameworks is fundamental for informing ecological restoration.     

高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠种群暴发区干扰斑块空间分布格局与演替规律

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)和高原鼢鼠(Myospalax baileyi)是两种在高寒草甸广泛分布的小型哺乳动物,其暴发活动可能造成高寒草甸的严重退化。使用无人机分别拍摄典型的高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠种群暴发区图像,解译高原鼠兔洞口、高原鼢鼠土丘和它们的干扰斑块,获得干扰斑块的周长和面积信息,计算干扰斑块形状指标,确定高原鼠兔与高原鼢鼠暴发活动对高寒草甸的影响。研究表明：(1)高原鼠兔与高原鼢鼠暴发活动形成的干扰斑块周长与面积比(PARA)、形状指数(SHAPE)和分形维数(FRAC)差异显著(P<0.05),其中高原鼢鼠斑块的FRAC是1.0124±0.0091,属于普通的规则几何圆形分布格局,高原鼠兔斑块的FRAC是1.1203±0.0546,属于分形几何不规则的分布格局。(2)高原鼠兔洞口数量与其斑块面积没有线性相关关系(P=0.9677),高原鼢鼠土丘数量与其斑块面积呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。(3)高原鼢鼠斑块面积统计学上呈长尾分布,不符合正态分布(P<0.01)。根据高原鼠兔斑块面积分布格局可将斑块演替分为三个阶段：土丘形成阶段、斑块连通...     

Effects of the invasive plant Mikania micrantha H.B.K. on soil nitrogen availability through allelopathy in South China

Allelopathy has been regarded as a mechanism for successful exotic plant invasion. However, it is not clear if and what effects of allelopathic substances may exert on soil nutrient. The exotic plant Mikania micrantha H.B.K. (M. micrantha) has invaded many forests in south China, and recent studies have suggested it has allelopathic potential for other plants and soil microbial community. Thus, we hypothesized that M. micrantha could influence soil nutrients and N transformation through allelopathy. We measured total C and N, NO₃ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺ and pH of the soil beneath M. micrantha and the adjacent open soil, and then measured the above soil properties after treating soil with 3 concentrations of aqueous extracts of M. micrantha (T₁: 0.005 g ml⁻¹; T₂: 0.025 g ml⁻¹; T₃: 0.100 g ml⁻¹). In addition, a bioassay was conducted to determine the allelopathic potential of the soil beneath M. micrantha. The results showed that M. micrantha significantly affected soil nutrients and N transformation. Soil beneath M. micrantha had inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growth of test plant, and had significantly higher C, N, ammonia, net nitrification rate than those of open soil. The plant extracts decreased soil pH, and T₁ decreased it the most, and it increased soil C and N, and T₁ represented the greatest increase in both C and N. The extracts also increased both NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺ in soil, whereas no significant difference existed among the 3 extract treatments. Compared to the water control, the soil net mineralization rate was higher under T₁, while lower under T₂ and T₃. However, the extracts increased the soil nitrification rates under all the treatments (T₁, T₂ and T₃). Our results suggest that the water soluble allelochemicals of M. micrantha improve soil nutrient availability, through which the invasive plant M. micrantha may successfully invade and establish in new habitats.