古尔班通古特沙漠生物土壤结皮对土壤种子库多样性与分布特征的影响

古尔班通古特沙漠地表广泛分布着生物土壤结皮,研究其覆盖下的土壤种子库,有利于了解生物土壤结皮的生态功能及当地植被更新与恢复的潜力。本文研究了该地区3种生物土壤结皮(藻结皮、地衣结皮、苔藓结皮)对土壤种子库分布特征和多样性的影响。结果表明:在种子库水平分布上,相比于裸沙,生物土壤结皮增加了种子库密度,且不同结皮类型对种子库的影响程度不同。地衣结皮土壤种子库的密度最大(5905±778粒·m~(-3)),其对种子的捕获作用最为明显,其次是苔藓结皮(1138±380粒·m~(-3)),藻结皮与裸沙无显著差异;水平分布上的差异与结皮的发育程度、种子的形态、不同生物土壤结皮空间分布的异质性有关。在垂直分布方面,结皮发育土壤,种子库集中分布在土壤浅层(0~2 cm),这与裸沙种子库的垂直分布特征基本一致,说明结皮的存在并没有显著改变种子库的垂直分布格局。此外,从裸沙到苔藓结皮,土壤种子库和地上植被的相似性不高(0.14~0.29),土壤种子库中的物种多样性和丰富度指数不及地上植被高。该研究区土壤种子库在植被恢复中的潜力可能较小,但相对于裸沙,生物土壤结皮的存在有益于土壤种子库的保持,对荒漠生态系统物种多样性的维持和稳定具有重要意义。     

古尔班通古特沙漠生物土壤结皮对土壤氮库垂直分布特征的影响

生物土壤结皮在干旱区氮素地球化学循环中具有重要作用,研究不同生物土壤结皮下不同形态氮素含量的变化,解析生物土壤结皮对土壤养分影响过程和范围,有助于进一步理解生物土壤结皮的生态功能。本研究以古尔班通古特沙漠藻-地衣混生结皮和藓类结皮两种生物土壤结皮为研究对象,以裸沙为对照,测定生物土壤结皮层和0—100 cm内8个土层全氮、无机氮、可溶性有机氮、游离态氨基酸氮、微生物生物量氮等氮库含量,和土壤脲酶、硝酸盐还原态酶、亮氨酸氨基肽酶等土壤胞外酶活性。结果表明：1)结皮层各形态氮素含量和各土壤酶活性显著高于其下层土壤,结皮层和结皮下各层土壤氮库整体上表现为藓类结皮>藻-地衣混生结皮>裸沙;土壤氮库各形态氮素含量和土壤酶活性在垂直分布上均呈现先显著下降(0—20 cm)后稳定(20—100 cm)的趋势;在20—30 cm土层,除裸沙的无机氮、铵态氮以及藻-地衣混生结皮的硝态氮外,其余速效氮(无机氮、硝态氮、铵态氮)含量具有增加的特点。2)土壤各氮库含量与全磷、有机碳、电导率、土壤脲酶和亮氨酸氨基肽酶活性呈正相关,与pH、土壤含水率呈负相关。3)利用氮循环相关指标建立土壤氮循环多功能...     

毛乌素沙地生物结皮覆盖区土壤水分收支变化特征

探究半干旱生态系统生物土壤结皮对土壤水文过程的影响,并量化生物结皮覆盖下土壤水分收支状况,可为荒漠地区植被恢复与重建提供理论依据。本研究基于2018—2020年生长季(5—10月)对毛乌素沙地不同类型生物结皮(如藻类和苔藓)覆盖区土壤水分的连续观测,以裸沙为对照,分析了生物结皮对0～40 cm土壤水分收支的影响。结果表明: 与裸沙相比,藻类结皮和苔藓结皮显著降低了降雨对40 cm以下土壤水分的补充,增加了土壤水分的蒸发损失。在相对湿润年份(2018年),裸沙和不同类型生物结皮覆盖土壤的水分支出量(渗漏量+蒸发量)均低于降雨量,土壤水分状况为收入;在相对干旱年份(2019和2020年),藻类结皮和苔藓结皮覆盖土壤的水分支出量高于降雨量,土壤水分产生亏缺,但是裸沙相反。可见,生物结皮导致其下覆0～40 cm土壤水分收支不平衡,在相对干旱年份出现了水分亏缺,这可能驱动该区域植被群落向浅根系植物演替。     

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.     

河西走廊沙漠人工植被区土壤种子库特征

土壤种子库作为地上植被更新的重要的种源储备库,在植被自然恢复和演替过程以及生态系统建设中起着重要作用。以河西走廊不同区域沙漠人工植被为研究对象,研究了土壤种子库物种组成、时空分布和数量变化特征。结果表明：河西走廊沙漠人工林土壤种子库共出现27种植物,分属8科22属,以藜科植物最多,生活型以草本植物种子比例最高,占到90.6%—95.06%;土壤种子库密度介于19.29粒/m~2—858.57粒/m~2之间,从东到西呈水平地带性分布,土壤种子库分布主要集中在0—2cm土层中,不同样地土壤种子库密度均呈明显的垂直分布,在0—10cm土层内,随着土层深度增加,种子库密度先减小后增大;土壤种子库多样性(Simpson指数)在河西走廊东段沙漠人工植被区最高,在0.671—0.812之间,河西走廊中段沙漠人工植被区为0.417—0.809之间,河西走廊西段沙漠人工植被区为0.256—0.707之间,从东到西呈下降趋势,Shannon-Wiener指数、Margalett丰富度指数、Peilow均匀度指数也表现出相同的趋势,说明由于生境的植被的异质性程度高,使土壤种子库之间的差异性显著;河西走廊沙漠...     

生物结皮-土壤呼吸对冬季低温及模拟增温的响应

以腾格里沙漠东南缘天然植被区藓类结皮和藻-地衣结皮-土壤为研究对象,利用开顶式生长室(OTC),采用Li-8150系统连续测定了冬季(2015年11月—2016年1月)低温环境下两类结皮-土壤呼吸的变化,分析了低温及模拟增温对两类结皮-土壤呼吸的影响.结果表明: 观测期内,藓类结皮、藻-地衣结皮-土壤呼吸速率分别为-0.052～0.418、-0.032～0.493 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,且藓类结皮显著高于藻-地衣结皮-土壤系统.不同类型结皮-土壤呼吸速率与5 cm土壤温度和土壤体积含水量均呈显著线性正相关,增温主要是通过加速土壤水分蒸散而抑制生物结皮-土壤呼吸速率.在整个观测期,藓类结皮-土壤系统累计排放9.90 g C·m^-2,显著高于藻-地衣结皮-土壤系统的7.00 g C·m^-2.研究区生物结皮-土壤系统冬季累计排放7.40 g C·m^-2,是该荒漠生态系统全年碳收支的重要组成部分.     

沙埋对干旱沙区生物结皮覆盖土壤温室气体通量的影响

以腾格里沙漠东南缘自然植被区生长的两种典型生物结皮——藓类和藻类-地衣混生结皮覆盖土壤为对象,通过设置0(对照)、1 mm(浅层)和10 mm(深层)沙埋处理,研究了沙埋对该区结皮覆盖土壤温室气体通量的影响,并通过测定沙埋后土壤温度、水分的变化,初步探讨了沙埋影响生物结皮覆盖土壤温室气体通量的环境机制.结果表明: 沙埋显著增加了两类结皮覆盖土壤的CO₂释放通量和CH₄吸收通量(P<0.05);但对N₂O通量的影响因沙埋厚度和结皮类型的不同而异:深层沙埋(10 mm)显著增加了两类结皮覆盖土壤的N₂O吸收通量,浅层沙埋(1 mm)仅显著降低了藓类结皮覆盖土壤的N₂O吸收通量,而对混生结皮覆盖土壤的N₂O通量影响不显著.沙埋显著增加了两类结皮覆盖土壤的表层温度和0~5 cm深土壤湿度,从而增加了其CO₂释放通量.但是沙埋引起的土壤温湿度的变化与CH₄和N₂O通量变化的相关性不显著,说明沙埋引起的土壤温湿度变化不是影响其CH₄和N₂O通量的关键因子.     

不同类型生物土壤结皮覆盖下风沙土的入渗特征及模拟

干旱荒漠区广泛分布的生物土壤结皮(BSCs)对土壤水分入渗过程有重要影响。以古尔班通古特沙漠南缘的BSCs为研究对象,基于野外采样与室内模拟实验等方法,探究藓类、地衣和藻等3种类型BSCs覆盖下沙土的入渗特征。结果表明:与无结皮覆盖的风沙土对照,3种类型BSCs均显著降低了沙土初渗速率,藓类结皮、地衣结皮、藻结皮覆盖下初渗速率降低幅度依次为36.10%、46.42%、50.39%;藓类结皮、地衣结皮(P0.05)和藻结皮(P0.05)均明显降低了沙土稳渗速率,降低幅度依次为16.50%、33.98%和35.92%;3种类型BSCs均限制了湿润锋在沙土的推进过程,表现为:藓类结皮、地衣结皮、藻结皮的渗漏时间分别为裸沙对照的2.13、3.04和2.98倍;各类型BSCs均减小了沙土累积入渗量,阻碍了沙土水分入渗,与裸沙对照相比,藓类结皮、地衣结皮、藻结皮的1 h累积入渗量分别降低16.10%、28.56%和26.56%。在实验条件下,Kostiakov模型最适用于模拟不同类型BSCs覆盖下土壤水分入渗过程,Horton模型模拟效果次之。     

生物结皮影响下的土壤有机质分异特征

对新疆古尔班通古特沙漠生物结皮影响下的土壤有机质分异特征进行了定量研究。结果表明,该沙漠典型沙垄不同部位具有不同的土壤有机质特征,且土壤有机质含量具有明显的分层特征。无论是结皮覆盖区还是非覆盖区,土壤有机质的积累均以表层0~5cm土层为主,由表及里呈递减趋势。这种地表有机质分布的规律在该沙漠地表普遍存在。虽然如此,生物结皮却强烈影响着地表0~5cm土层有机质的含量的积累,它的存在使得该层有机质含量极显著地高于无结皮覆盖区0~5cm土层的有机质含量(t检验,p<0.01),表明生物结皮能显著增加地表0~5cm土层的有机质含量;而无论结皮覆盖区还是非结皮覆盖区,两者5~10cm土层之间和10~30cm土层之间的有机质含量无显著差异(t检验,p>0.05),说明生物结皮对土壤有机质含量的影响范围仅限于表层0~5cm,对更深层次土壤的有机质含量则无显著影响。     

红壤侵蚀区植被恢复过程中土壤种子库变化特征

土壤侵蚀作为一种自然营力和自然干扰形式对土壤种子库的次分布与物种组成具有一定的影响。本研究对典型红壤侵蚀区裸地(Ⅰ号)、马尾松林地(Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ号)和次生林(Ⅴ号)等5处不同植被恢复区的土壤种子库物种组成、储量及分布格局进行研究,探究在植被恢复过程中土壤侵蚀对土壤种子库的影响。结果表明: 研究区土壤种子库共统计到21种物种,物种丰富度低,以草本种类为主。各样地土壤种子库密度为56.7～793.3粒·m^-2,样地间差异显著,土壤种子库密度随着土壤侵蚀强度加重而明显下降。各样地浅层0～2 cm土壤种子库密度随着上坡-中坡-下坡的变化均呈增加趋势;剧烈侵蚀地和强烈侵蚀地土壤种子库主要分布在5～10 cm深层土壤内,且中上坡0～2 cm土层几乎没有种子。土壤侵蚀使得土壤种子库在土层中的分布呈现深层化,植被恢复后深层种子库积累仍需要较长的时间。     

Germination and seed water status of four grasses on moss-dominated biological soil crusts from arid lands

Biological soil crusts dominated by drought-tolerant mosses are commonly found through arid and semiarid steppe communities of the northern Great Basin of North America. We conducted growth chamber experiments to investigate the effects of these crusts on the germination of four grasses: Festuca idahoensis, Festuca ovina, Elymus wawawaiensis and Bromus tectorum. For each of these species, we recorded germination time courses on bare soil and two types of biological soil crusts; one composed predominantly of the tall moss Tortula ruralis and the other dominated by the short moss Bryum argenteum. On the short-moss crust, the final germination percentage was about half of that on bare soil. Also, the mean germination time was 4 days longer on short-mosses than on bare soil. In contrast to the short-moss crust, the tall-moss crust did not reduce the final germination percentage but increased the mean germination time. Similar results were observed in the four grasses studied. To investigate the mechanism by which moss crusts affected germination, we analyzed the water status of seeds on bare soil and moss crusts. Six days after seeding, the water content of seeds on bare soil was approximately twice that of seeds on tall- or short-moss crust. Analysis of the time course of changes in seed weight and water potential in Bromus tectorum revealed that overtime seeds on tall mosses reached higher water content than those on short mosses. The increase in the water content of seeds on tall mosses occurred as the seeds gradually fell through the moss canopy. Taken together, our results indicate that biological soil crusts with distinct structural characteristics can have different effects on seed germination. Furthermore, this study revealed that a biological soil crust dominated by short mosses had a negative effect on seed water status and significantly reduced seed germination.     

黄土丘陵区不同类型生物结皮下的土壤生态化学计量特征

生物结皮在土壤养分累积和循环中起着重要作用.本研究以黄土丘陵区浅色藻结皮、深色藻结皮、藻藓混合结皮、藓结皮、地衣结皮和普通念珠藻结皮6类典型生物结皮为对象,分析不同类型生物结皮土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量学特征,研究不同类型生物结皮对土壤养分的影响.结果表明:不同类型生物结皮土壤C、N、P、C/N、C/P、N/P差异显著;生物结皮层C、N、P、C/N、C/P、N/P均显著高于0~10 cm土层土壤.6类生物结皮土壤C、N含量均随土层加深而下降,P含量受土层深度影响较小.对于生物结皮层,藓结皮C、N、P含量分别为27.07、2.42、0.67 g·kg^-1,显著高于其他类型生物结皮.念珠藻结皮的0~2 cm土层土壤C、N、P、C/N、C/P、N/P显著高于其他类型生物结皮.     

混合生物结皮对土壤养分的影响与群落结构之关联——以黄土丘陵区的生物结皮为例

自然条件下生物结皮是藻、藓及地衣等结皮类型以不同比例组成的混合群落，显著影响土壤养分含量，目前混合生物结皮对土壤养分的影响与其群落结构的关系尚不清楚，限制了混合生物结皮土壤养分的评估。为此，研究通过测定单一组成的藻结皮、藓结皮以及80%藻+20%藓、60%藻+40%藓、40%藻+60%藓和20%藻+80%藓4个不同藻藓比例的混合生物结皮土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、速效磷、铵态氮和硝态氮含量，研究了混合生物结皮土壤养分与其群落结构之间的关联。结果显示：(1)藓结皮层土壤有机碳、全氮、速效磷、铵态氮和硝态氮含量显著高于藻结皮，分别高出166.4%、77.2%、55.1%、56.2%和42.2%。(2)藻藓混合生物结皮土壤有机碳、全氮、速效磷和铵态氮含量与组成和盖度等结构特征有关，可以通过单一类型生物结皮土壤养分含量与盖度加权预测混合生物结皮土壤养分储量。(3)混合生物结皮土壤有机碳、全氮、速效磷和铵态氮储量实测值(x)与预测值(y)拟合的线性函数分别为y=0.97x、y=0.96x、y=1.18x和y=0.92x。(4)混合生物结皮对全磷和硝态氮含量的影响与群落结构无关。生物结皮对下层0—5 ...     

Response of biological soil crusts to raindrop erosivity and underlying influences in the hilly Loess Plateau region,China

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are ubiquitous living covers in arid and semiarid regions, playing a critical role in soil erosion control in semiarid regions. So far, research separating the multiple mechanisms of erosion control by biocrusts has been limited. It was problematic to link the influence of biocrusts to existing erosion models. In the present study, the response of biocrusts of different successional stages to raindrop erosivity and underlying influences was investigated. Using single drop simulated rainfall, the erosion controlling capacities of biocrusts were analyzed from an energetic perspective. The results showed that biocrusts caused a dramatic improvement of soil erosion resistance, which depended on species composition and increased considerably with higher succession stages. While the accumulated raindrop kinetic energy sustained by dark cyanobacterial crusts was 0.93 J (~15 times higher than that of bare soil), that of 60 % moss covered crusts reached values up to 20.18 J (~342 times higher than that of bare soil) and for 80 % moss covered crusts even 24.59 J were measured. Besides the composition and successional stages, the resistance of biocrusts to raindrop erosivity was related to the substrate soil moisture, soil texture, slope gradients and seasonal variation. The accumulated raindrop kinetic energy measured for cyanobacterial crusts was highest on silty, followed by loamy and sandy soil. For moss-dominated crusts raindrop kinetic energy was highest on sandy, followed by silty and loamy soil. Dry biocrust samples reached significantly higher accumulated raindrop kinetic energies compared to moist biocrusts, whereas the moisture content within moist crusts did not have a significant influence. Erosion resistance increased significantly with higher slope gradients. The resistance capacities of biocrusts during monsoon and post-monsoon were significantly higher than these of pre-monsoon biocrusts. Our results suggest that the influence of biocrusts can be included into erosion models from an energy point of view. The raindrop kinetic energy resistance capacity provides a potential bridge between biocrust succession and soil erodibility in commonly used erosion models.     

Strategies for restoring the structure and function of lichen‐moss biocrust communities

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are crucial components of dryland ecosystems, but they are slow to recover following disturbance. Herein, we evaluated several methods for restoring lichen‐moss biocrusts that included factorial applications of moss fragments in a water‐slurry (1) with and without lichen fragments (to restore biocrust taxonomic structure), (2) with and without clay (to facilitate establishment), and (3) with and without jute ground cloth (to facilitate establishment). Three and four years after inoculation, moss and lichen cover was up to five and eight times higher on jute ground cloth than on bare ground, respectively. Lichen cover was six times higher in plots where lichen fragments were added. Clay amendments did not increase moss or lichen establishment. To understand the effects of biocrust recovery on soil properties, we measured soil inorganic nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, and soil water availability in restoration and control plots. Restored biocrusts decreased inorganic NH₄‐N availability by 67% when compared to controls 3 years after inoculation, but did not influence the availability of inorganic NO₃‐N, soil water, or microbial biomass carbon. Our results demonstrate that adding a biocrust inoculant to jute ground cloth can expedite recovery of lichen‐moss biocrust and reestablish its influence on soil properties within a few years.     

Seed characteristics and soil surface patch type interact to affect germination of semi-arid woodland species

Biological soil crusts are common in many arid and semi-arid regions and they can alter microenvironments which are likely to directly and indirectly influence vascular plant establishment. The effect of biological soil crusts on germination is also influenced by the biological characteristics of the seeds themselves but rarely have the effects of both crust type and seed morphology on germination been examined in the same study. In this study, seed of five semi-arid woodland species with contrasting seed morphology were sown on top of patch types that commonly occur in natural woodlands (foliose lichen, short-turf moss, tree leaf litter, disturbed crust) and their emergence was followed. Percent germination varied between patch types and, for the largest-seeded species (Maireana excavata), final germination was significantly lower on the biological soil crust and litter patch types because they strongly acted as a physical barrier to seed penetration into the soil. The remaining four species showed no significant differences in final percent germination with patch type because most seeds either completely or partially penetrated the surface layer. Germination time courses, however, showed that biological soil crusts delayed the timing of germination of these species. Hence, soil crusts might differentially affect the spatial patterning of species in semi-arid woodlands by their subtle influence on seedling emergence that is determined by differences in seed morphology and subsequent positioning within crusts.     

Germination and seedling establishment of two annual grasses on lichen-dominated biological soil crusts

Biological soil crusts dominated by lichens are common components of shrub-steppe ecosystems in northwestern US. We conducted growth chamber experiments to investigate the effects of these crusts on seed germination and initial seedling establishment of two annual grasses; the highly invasive exotic Bromus tectorum L. and the native Vulpia microstachys Nutt. We recorded germination time courses on bare soil and two types of biological soil crusts; one composed predominantly of the lichen Diploschistes muscorum (Scop.) R. Sant. (lichen crust) and the other comprised of an assortment of lichens and mosses (mixed crust). Final germination on the lichen crust for both grass species was about a third of that on the bare soil surface. Mean germination time (MGT) was 3–4 days longer on the lichen crust compared with the bare soil. In contrast, there was no difference in germination percentage or MGT between the mixed crust and bare soil, and results were similar for both grass species. For both species, root penetration of germinating seeds on the lichen crust was lower than on the bare soil or mixed crust surfaces. The combined effects of the lichen crust on germination and root penetration resulted in an overall reduction in seedling establishment of 78% for V. microstachys and 85% for B. tectorum relative to the bare soil treatment. Our results clearly demonstrate that lichen-dominated biological soil crust can inhibit germination and root penetration, but the extent of these effects depends on the composition of the crust. Responsible Editor: Tibor Kalapos