Seed dispersal in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) dung and its potential importance for vegetation dynamics in subalpine grasslands

Free-ranging large herbivores can influence vegetation dynamics through seed dispersal within and among habitats. We investigated the content of germinable seeds in the dung (endozoochory) of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), the most ubiquitous wild ungulate throughout the European Alps, and compared the results with the species composition of the vegetation type in which the dung was dropped. The study was conducted in the subalpine zone of the Swiss National Park and included the three most important vegetation types for red deer: (i) intensively grazed short-grass vegetation, (ii) less intensively grazed tall-grass vegetation, and (iii) adjacent conifer forest understory vegetation. Seeds of 47 species, mostly from small-seeded herbaceous species, were recorded in dung samples with three species accounting for 65% of germinated seeds. Our results confirmed the hypotheses that (H1) small-seeded species were more likely to occur in red deer dung than larger-seeded species, though seed size was unrelated to seed density, (H2) red deer dung contained mostly seeds from short-grass vegetation, with seed species composition in dung collected from any vegetation type being most similar to species composition of relevés from short-grass vegetation, and (H3) seeds were less likely to be dispersed between vegetation types than within vegetation types, with dung dropped in short-grass vegetation having a different species composition and containing over twice as many seeds as dung dropped in the other two vegetation types. These results collectively support the hypothesis that red deer endozoochory contributes to maintaining short-grass vegetation, the favoured grazing sites of hinds in the Swiss National Park, by increasing propagule pressure of seeds from herbaceous forage species adapted to endozoochory relative to other species and especially those from later stages of secondary succession.     

Linkages between grazing history and herbivore exclusion on decomposition rates in mineral soils of subalpine grasslands

Background & aims

Herbivore-driven changes to soil properties can influence the decomposition rate of organic material and therefore soil carbon cycling within grassland ecosystems. We investigated how aboveground foraging mammalian and invertebrate herbivores affect mineral soil decomposition rates and associated soil properties in two subalpine vegetation types (short-grass and tall-grass) with different grazing histories.

Methods

Using exclosures with differing mesh sizes, we progressively excluded large, medium and small mammals and invertebrates from the two vegetation types in the Swiss National Park (SNP). Mineral soil decomposition rates were assessed using the cotton cloth (standard substrate) method between May and September 2010.

Results

Decomposition displayed strong spatio-temporal variability, best explained by soil temperature. Exclusion of large mammals increased decomposition rates, but further exclusion reduced decomposition rates again in the lightly grazed (tall-grass) vegetation. No difference among treatments was found in the heavily grazed (short-grass) vegetation. Heavily grazed areas had higher decomposition rates than the lightly grazed areas because of higher soil temperatures. Microbial biomass carbon and soil C:N ratio were also linked to spatio-temporal decomposition patterns, but not to grazing history.

Conclusions

Despite altering some of the environmental controls of decomposition, cellulose decomposition rates in the SNP’s subalpine grasslands appear to be mostly resistant to short-term herbivore exclusion.     

The Response of Soil CO2 Fluxes to Progressively Excluding Vertebrate and Invertebrate Herbivores Depends on Ecosystem Type

Grasslands support large populations of herbivores and store up to 30% of the world’s soil carbon (C). Thus, herbivores likely play an important role in the global C cycle. However, most studies on how herbivory impacts the largest source of C released from grassland soils—soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions—only considered the role of large ungulates. This ignores all other vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores and their collective effects on ecosystem properties. We progressively excluded large, medium, and small vertebrates and invertebrates from two subalpine grasslands (productive, heavily grazed short-grass; less productive, lightly grazed tall-grass) using size-selective fences, assessed the impact on soil CO₂ emissions and related biotic and abiotic variables. Exclusion resulted in significant changes in soil CO₂ emissions in both vegetation types. Short-grass soil CO₂ emissions progressively increased when large and medium mammals were excluded. However, no difference was detected among plots were all or no herbivores grazed. In contrast, tall-grass soil CO₂ emissions were not affected by mammal exclusion, but excluding all herbivores lead to reduced emissions. Soil micro-climatic parameters best predicted the patterns of soil CO₂ emissions in short-grass vegetation, whereas root biomass was the best predictor of CO₂ release in tall-grass vegetation. Our results showed that diverse herbivore communities affect soil respiration differently than assumed from previous studies that only excluded large ungulates. Such information is important if we are to understand how changes in herbivore species composition—as could happen through altered management practices, extinction or invasion—impact grassland C storage and release.     

Indirect Short- and Long-Term Effects of Aboveground Invertebrate and Vertebrate Herbivores on Soil Microarthropod Communities

Recognition is growing that besides ungulates, small vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores are important drivers of grassland functioning. Even though soil microarthropods play key roles in several soil processes, effects of herbivores—especially those of smaller body size—on their communities are not well understood. Therefore, we progressively excluded large, medium and small vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores for three growing seasons using size-selective fences in two vegetation types in subalpine grasslands; short-grass and tall-grass vegetation generated by high and low historical levels of ungulate grazing. Herbivore exclusions generally had few effects on microarthropod communities, but exclusion of all herbivore groups resulted in decreased total springtail and Poduromorpha richness compared with exclusion of only ungulates and medium-sized mammals, regardless of vegetation type. The tall-grass vegetation had a higher total springtail richness and mesostigmatid mite abundance than the short-grass vegetation and a different oribatid mite community composition. Although several biotic and abiotic variables differed between the exclusion treatments and vegetation types, effects on soil microarthropods were best explained by differences in nutrient and fibre content of the previous year’s vegetation, a proxy for litter quality, and to a lesser extent soil temperature. After three growing seasons, smaller herbivores had a stronger impact on these functionally important soil microarthropod communities than large herbivores. Over longer time-scales, however, large grazers created two different vegetation types and thereby influenced microarthropod communities bottom-up, e.g. by altering resource quality. Hence, both short- and long-term consequences of herbivory affected the structure of the soil microarthropod community.     

Effects of deposition of deer dung on nutrient redistribution and on soil and plant nutrients on intensively grazed grasslands in lowland Nepal

Nutrient redistribution, deer response to areas containing dung, and plant and soil nutrient content on grazing lawns and adjacent control areas were studied on intensively grazed grasslands in humid lowland Nepal. Effects of experimental fertilisation of grasslands with different amounts of dung pellets were also studied. A high-density population of axis deer recirculated 13 tons (dry mass, DM) of dung per month in the 10 km² study area. Because of preferential use of the grasslands for feeding while resting elsewhere, 10 tons were lost from the grassland to other habitat types per month during the dry season (February–May). The N, P, K, Na, and Mg content of grass from grazing lawns was significantly higher, probably because the grass was kept in a younger phenological stage of growth. In contrast with results from many other studies, the nutrient content of lawn soil was similar to that of adjacent, less intensively grazed areas, apart from P, which was lower in lawn soils. High plant P requirement on grazing lawns and removal of nutrients by deer may explain low soil P levels. Experiments with pellet fertilisation showed that high dung deposition increased plant P content, probably because of increased P uptake during early stages of growth. Dung deposition did not affect deer grazing preferences.     

Effect of fencing and grazing on a Kobresia-dominated meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Grazing is one of the most important factors influencing community structure and productivity in natural grasslands. Fencing to exclude grazers is one of the main management practices used to protect grasslands. Can fencing improve grassland community status by restraining grazing? We conducted a field community study and indoor soil analyses to determine the long-term effects of fencing and grazing on the above-ground community and soil in a Kobresia-dominated meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Our results showed that fencing significantly improved above-ground vegetation productivity but reduced plant density and species diversity. Long-term fencing favored the improvement of forage grass functional groups and restrained the development noxious weed functional groups. There were significant positive effects of fencing on below-ground organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total phosphorus and available phosphorus. The productivity of grazed meadow showed a weak decrease over time. There were long-term decreasing trends for plant density both in fenced and grazed meadows. Our study suggests that grazing can be considered as a useful management practice to improve species diversity and plant density in long-term fenced grasslands and that periodic grazing and fencing is beneficial in grassland management.     

Changes in vegetation states in grazed and ungrazed Mackenzie Basin grasslands, New Zealand, 1990-2000

Changes in vegetation from 1990 to 2000 were examined at 10 high country localities, representing four grassland types: fescue tussock (Festuca novae-zelandiae), snow tussock (Chionochloa rigida), red tussock (C. rubra), and silver tussock (Poa cita). At each locality, three treatments were established: ambient sheep+rabbit grazing, rabbit grazing only, and no grazing. The mutivariate methods of classification and ordination were used on individual-quadrat cover data to define vegetation states and to examine transitions between them over time. Vegetation states in quadrats already dominated by Hieracium pilosella(> 50% cover) in 1990 showed little change in species composition regardless of grassland type and grazing treatment. In fescue tussock grassland, H. pilosellaincreased regardless of grazing treatment in states with low initial H. pilosellacover (< 5%), while the cover of Carex colensoi, Aira caryophyllea and Rumex acetosella decreased. In the single silver tussock locality, Poa citadecreased markedly in the ungrazed treatment as adventive species such as Dactylis glomerataand Echium vulgare increased. However, Poa citaalso decreased, probably due to drought, in the grazed treatment. Snow tussock and red tussock grassland states were more stable than those in short tussock grasslands, but there was also a general trend towards increasing H. pilosellacover in intertussock vegetation regardless of treatment. However, at one snow tussock locality, transitions from H. piloselladominated to C. rigida-dominated states occurred in ungrazed quadrats, while the reverse occurred in grazed vegetation. Implications for the management of tussock grasslands for conservation are discussed.     

Quantifying the damage of red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing on grassland production in southeastern Slovenia

The influence of red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing on grassland production for forage conservation at the forest border during the vegetation period was studied on three locations (Mala gora, Cvišlerji, and Mačkovec) in the Kočevje region (SE Slovenia). The experiment lasted from the 25th of March until the 8th of October 2002. Portable cages were used to exclude red deer from grazing the herbage. At four sampling dates in the season, herbage air dry matter (DM) yield was measured at three different observations (cage-protected plot, cage-protected plot only two to three weeks before sampling date, otherwise freely grazed (removed), and unprotected plot). The results from the experiment showed that red deer grazed on grassland through the entire season and that the regeneration capability of sward was the highest in summer, middle in spring and smallest in autumn. On unprotected plots, an average reduction of 50% of herbage DM yield was found with the most damaged sites also up to 80% reduction.     

Effects of fencing and grazing on the temporal dynamic of soil organic carbon content in two temperate grasslands in Inner Mongolia,China

This study aimed to investigate the impact of long-term grassland management on the temporal dynamic of SOC density in two temperate grasslands. The top soil SOC density, soil total nitrogen density and soil bulk density (0–20 cm) under long-term fencing and grazing treatments, the aboveground net primary productivity of fenced plots and the associated climatic factors of Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis grasslands in Inner Mongolia were collected from literatures and analyzed. The results showed that the SOC density increased linearly with fenced duration but was insensitive to grazed duration in both grasslands. Compared with long-term grazing, fenced plots had larger potential for carbon sequestration, and the accumulation rate of SOC density was 29 and 35 g Cm^–2y^–1 for L. chinensis and S. grandis grasslands. Fenced duration and mean annual temperature jointly contributed large effect on temporal pattern of SOC density. Climate change and grazed duration had little influence on the inter-annual variance of SOC density in grazed plots. Our results confirmed the enhancement effect of long-term fencing on soil carbon sequestration in degraded temperate grassland, and long-term permanent plot observation is essential and effective for accurately and comprehensively understanding the temporal dynamic of SOC storage.     

Long‐term effects of the abandonment of grazing on steppe‐like grasslands

Question: What are the consequences of grazing abandonment on the Stipa lessingiana dominated steppe‐like grasslands? What is the relative importance of management and environmental factors in causing variation in species composition and abundance in the continuously grazed and abandoned grassland stands? Location: Transylvanian Lowland, Romania. Methods: Repeated vegetation mapping of a grassland stand, where grazing was abandoned 35 years ago; re‐sampling six grassland stands surveyed 29–57 years ago. For revealing long‐term changes in species composition and rank abundance PCoA ordination was applied. The relative importance of management and environmental factors in structuring vegetation were explored by CCA ordination. Diversity, evenness and the relative number and abundance of red‐listed species were compared between managed and abandoned stands. Results: Our results pointed out that grasslands which were formerly grazed and dominated by S. lessingiana, in the long‐term absence of grazing, have been transformed into a S. pulcherrima dominated type. Management, probably by creating bare surfaces and preventing litter accumulation, had the strongest effect on the species composition and abundance in the grasslands. Abandoned grassland stands had lower diversity and evenness compared to continuously grazed stands. While at the same time, the relative number of threatened, rare species did not differ between managed and abandoned sites. Conclusion: Maintaining extensively grazed, as well as un‐managed, Stipa dominated grasslands would be important in order to create various habitat conditions for plant species, especially threatened and rare species, and promote diversity on the landscape scale.     

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.     

内蒙古草甸草原与典型草原地下生物量与生产力季节动态及其碳库潜力

地下根系是草原生态系统的重要组成部分,其生物量及其净生产力对地下碳库具有直接与间接作用,分析地下生物量季节动态与周转对深入揭示草原生态系统碳库动态及其固碳速率与潜力具有重要意义。应用钻土芯法对不同利用方式或管理措施下内蒙古草甸草原、典型草原地下生物量动态及其与温度、降水的相关性研究表明:草甸草原和典型草原地上生物量季节动态均为单峰型曲线,与上月降水显著正相关(P0.05),但地下生物量季节动态表现为草甸草原呈"S"型曲线,典型草原则是双峰型曲线,与温度、降水相关性均不显著(P0.05);两种草原根冠比和地下生物量垂直分布均为指数函数曲线,根茎型草原地下生物量集中在土壤0—5 cm,丛生型草原地下生物量集中于土壤5—10 cm,根冠比值在生长旺季(7—8月份)最小。草甸草原地下净生产力及碳储量范围分别为2167—2953 g m-2a-1和975—1329 gC m-2a-1,典型草原为2342—3333 g m-2a-1和1054—1450 gC m-2a-1,地下净生产力及其碳储量约为地上净生产力及其碳储量的10倍,具有较大的年固碳能力,且相对稳定;地下净生产力与地上净生产力呈显著负相关性(P0.05);地下生物量碳库是地上生物量碳库的10倍左右,适度放牧可增加地下生产力,但长期过度放牧显著降低其地下生物量与生产力,并使其垂直分布趋向于浅层化。     

Impact of Formica exsecta Nyl. on seed bank and vegetation patterns in a subalpine grassland ecosystem

The mound building ant Formica exsecta Nyl. is widely distributed in grassland ecosystems of the Central European Alps. We studied the impact of these ants on seed bank and vegetation patterns in a 11 ha subalpine grassland, where we counted over 700 active ant mounds. The mounds showed a distinct spatial distribution with most of them being located in tall‐grass, which was rarely visited by ungulates (red deer; Cervus elaphus L.). Heavily grazed short‐grass, in contrast, seemed to be completely avoided by ants as only few mounds were found in this vegetation type. The species composition of the ant mound and grassland seed banks was quite similar, i.e. from 15 common plant species 12 were found in both seed bank types. We found the same proportions of myrmecochorous seeds in ant mound and grassland soil samples. In contrast, the number of seeds was 15 times higher in mound compared with the grassland soil samples. Also, the vegetation growing on ant mounds significantly differed from the vegetation outside the mounds: graminoids dominated on ant mounds, herbaceous and myrmecochorous species in the grassland vegetation. We found significant continuous changes in vegetation composition on gradients from the ant mound centre to 1 m away from the mound edge. Overall, F. exsecta was found to have a considerable impact on seed bank and vegetation patterns in the grassland ecosystem studied. These insects not only altered grassland characteristics in the close surrounding of their mounds, but also seem to affect the entire ecosystem including, for example, the spatial use of the grassland by red deer.     

Traditional Cattle Grazing in a Mosaic Alkali Landscape: Effects on Grassland Biodiversity along a Moisture Gradient

Extensively managed pastures are of crucial importance in sustaining biodiversity both in local- and landscape-level. Thus, re-introduction of traditional grazing management is a crucial issue in grassland conservation actions worldwide. Traditional grazing with robust cattle breeds in low stocking rates is considered to be especially useful to mimic natural grazing regimes, but well documented case-studies are surprisingly rare on this topic. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of traditional Hungarian Grey cattle grazing as a conservation action in a mosaic alkali landscape. We asked the following questions: (i) How does cattle grazing affect species composition and diversity of the grasslands? (ii) What are the effects of grazing on short-lived and perennial noxious species? (iii) Are there distinct effects of grazing in dry-, mesophilous- and wet grassland types? Vegetation of fenced and grazed plots in a 200-ha sized habitat complex (secondary dry grasslands and pristine mesophilous- and wet alkali grasslands) was sampled from 2006–2009 in East-Hungary. We found higher diversity scores in grazed plots compared to fenced ones in mesophilous- and wet grasslands. Higher cover of noxious species was typical in fenced plots compared to their grazed counterparts in the last year in every studied grassland type. We found an increasing effect of grazing from the dry- towards the wet grassland types. The year-to-year differences also followed similar pattern: the site-dependent effects were the lowest in the dry grassland and an increasing effect was detected along the moisture gradient. We found that extensive Hungarian Grey cattle grazing is an effective tool to suppress noxious species and to create a mosaic vegetation structure, which enables to maintain high species richness in the landscape. Hungarian Grey cattle can feed in open habitats along long moisture gradient, thus in highly mosaic landscapes this breed can be the most suitable livestock type.     

Grazing‐induced changes in plant–soil feedback alter plant biomass allocation

Large vertebrate herbivores, as well as plant–soil feedback interactions are important drivers of plant performance, plant community composition and vegetation dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. However, it is poorly understood whether and how large vertebrate herbivores and plant–soil feedback effects interact. Here, we study the response of grassland plant species to grazing‐induced legacy effects in the soil and we explore whether these plant responses can help us to understand long‐term vegetation dynamics in the field. In a greenhouse experiment we tested the response of four grassland plant species, Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus and Rumex acetosa, to field‐conditioned soils from grazed and ungrazed grassland. We relate these responses to long‐term vegetation data from a grassland exclosure experiment in the field. In the greenhouse experiment, we found that total biomass production and biomass allocation to roots was higher in soils from grazed than from ungrazed plots. There were only few relationships between plant production in the greenhouse and the abundance of conspecifics in the field. Spatiotemporal patterns in plant community composition were more stable in grazed than ungrazed grassland plots, but were not related to plant–soil feedbacks effects and biomass allocation patterns. We conclude that grazing‐induced soil legacy effects mainly influenced plant biomass allocation patterns, but could not explain altered vegetation dynamics in grazed grasslands. Consequently, the direct effects of grazing on plant community composition (e.g. through modifying light competition or differences in grazing tolerance) appear to overrule indirect effects through changes in plant–soil feedback.     

Kaimanawa Feral Horses and Their Environmental Impacts

Feral horses (Equus caballus L.) occupy 64 000 ha of montane- subalpine tussock grassland in the south-western Kaimanawa Mountains, an area zoned for military training. Since 1979, the population has increased at 16.7% per annum, reaching 1102 in 1990. The most extensive habitat, red tussock (Chionochloa rubra) grassland, was variably affected by horses; tussocks in restricted mesic sites were heavily grazed and mostly eliminated, but those in extensive xeric grasslands showed little impact. The mixed hard tussock (Festuca novaezelandiae)/red tussock grasslands on basin floors and plateaux, which had already been degraded by early European farming, were suffering further depletion from horse grazing. The restricted, high altitude Chionochloa pallens tussock communities were being eliminated rapidly through preferential grazing. Oligotrophic bogs, on the summits and basin floors were largely intact, whereas high nutrient flushes were severely affected by trampling and grazing. Horses appeared to have had little impact upon Nothofagus forest understoreys. Ten plant species, several of which are vulnerable nationally, occur in the North Island only within the wild horse range. The habitats of five of them were damaged by horses. Throughout the wide basins and plateaux of the north, horses compromised floristic, rare plant habitat, and landscape nature conservation values. Their numbers may therefore have to be controlled.     

乌鲁木齐山地草地生态系统服务价值变化评估——基于遥感与GIS

草地生态系统服务功能是指草地生态系统及其生态过程所形成和维持的人类赖以生存的自然环境及其有效性,中国干旱半干旱地区的草地退化严重制约着生态系统服务功能的。以乌鲁木齐市山地草地为研究靶区,利用遥感图像(Landsat TM/OLI)划分出7种不同草地类型并计算其生态系统服务价值(Ecosystem Service Values, ESV)。使用空间统计方法、网格分析、空间自相关等方法进一步分析研究区山地草地退化程度和ESV变化。结果表明:21年中,乌鲁木齐市草地生态系统服务价值呈现波动性下降趋势,年均减少0.27×10~7元。生态损失主要是由山地荒漠草地(7.44%)、山地荒漠草原草地(10.71%)、山地草甸草原草地(18.32%)和高寒草甸草地(40.69%)退化造成。单项生态系统服务价值中,草地对调节服务(土壤形成)和供给服务的贡献率较高。草地ESVs Moran平均值为0.869(1994—2015年),并且草地ESV与相邻网格(2 km×2 km)具有更高的空间相关性。草地ESV具有明显的空间分布特征,高ESV区基本上分布在南山山区,低ESV区主要分布在平原草地区,博格达山草地亚区呈现随机分布格局。研究区气候变化对草地的影响十分显著,平均气温、平均地表温度、湿度、蒸散量、降水量和风速对草地ESV变化均有一定的影响,过度放牧、不合理垦荒、药用植物过度开发、城市化等人为活动仍然是驱动草地退化的主要因子,因此亟需采取措施保育乌鲁木齐市山地草原生态系统。     

Differential Indirect Effects of Excluding Livestock and Rabbits from Chalk Heath on the Associated Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) Fauna

Preliminary results are presented of sampling the leafhopper assemblages on a field experiment designed to examine the differential effects of rabbits and livestock (mainly sheep) on the vegetation of chalk heath in southern England. Experimental plots that excluded livestock either allowed entry by rabbits or excluded them. Results were compared with those from plots grazed by both livestock and rabbits. After 7 years, exclusion of grazing herbivores had resulted in predictable increases in vegetation height, but no major changes were detected in the species composition of the vegetation. As expected, ungrazed plots had higher species richness and greater abundances of several individual leafhopper species. However, plots grazed only by rabbits had a leafhopper assemblage that was distinct from either ungrazed or mixed grazing plots. It is suggested that rabbit grazing may have subtle effects on grassland invertebrate assemblages that are not necessarily predictable from an examination of the species composition of the vegetation. Chalk heath vegetation contains an unusual mixture of calcicole and calcifuge plant species, but the leafhopper assemblage included a restricted number of calcareous grassland specialist species and only one species strongly associated with acidic grasslands; most leafhoppers recorded were generalist grassland species.     

Response of Vegetation and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage to Grazing Intensity in Semi-Arid Grasslands in the Agro-Pastoral Zone of Northern China

Overgrazing has been the primary cause of grassland degradation in the semi-arid grasslands of the agro-pastoral transition zone in northern China. However, there has been little evidence regarding grazing intensity impacts on vegetation change and soil C and N dynamics in this region. This paper reports the effects of four grazing intensities namely un-grazed (UG), lightly grazed (LG), moderately grazed (MG) and heavily grazed (HG) on vegetation characteristics and soil properties of grasslands in the Guyuan county in the agro-pastoral transition region, Hebei province, northern China. Our study showed that the vegetation height, canopy cover, plant species abundance and aboveground biomass decreased significantly with increased grazing intensity. Similarly, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (STN) in the 0–50 cm were highest under UG (13.3 kg C m⁻² and 1.69 kg N m⁻²) and lowest under HG (9.8 kg C m⁻² and 1.22 kg N m⁻²). Soil available nitrogen (SAN) was significantly lower under HG (644 kg N hm⁻²) than under other treatments (725–731 kg N hm⁻²) in the 0–50 cm. Our results indicate that the pasture management of “take half-leave half” has potential benefits for primary production and livestock grazing in this region. However, grazing exclusion was perhaps the most effective choice for restoring degraded grasslands in this region. Therefore, flexible rangeland management should be adopted in this region.     

黄土高原草地植被碳密度的空间分布特征

草地是世界上分布最广的植被类型之一,作为陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,参与了全球碳源/汇及碳循环过程,在全球气候变化中扮演着重要角色,并对其产生重大影响。以黄土高原草地植被为研究对象,结合国家退耕还林草与封山禁牧工程的实施,对封禁前后的天然草地和退化草地,采用样带多点调查与多年定位测定相结合的方法,分析了黄土高原不同类型草地植物活体、凋落物和根系碳密度分布格局与地带性规律,系统研究了黄土高原不同草地类型退化草地和封禁草地生物量与碳密度沿海拔及降水梯度的时空变异特征,阐述了影响草地碳密度分布的主要驱动因子及其作用机理。结果表明:4种草地类型3种处理的草地生物量和碳密度自西北向东南均与降雨量呈指数增长趋势,并随海拔降低而显著降低,且二者呈显著的线性回归关系;各草地类型地上/地下生物量与碳密度分布规律均为荒漠草原<丘陵典型草原<梁塬典型草原<草甸草原;封禁11a草地活体植物、凋落物和根系碳密度总量:荒漠草原为7.066 t/hm2,丘陵典型草原为8.080 t/hm2,梁塬典型草原为15.319 t/hm2,草甸草原为20.982 t/hm2,分别是退化草地的14.8、8.33、6.5倍和15.88倍。充分表明,封禁不仅能使草地植被恢复和生物量提高,而且也是草地生产力和碳密度增加的一条重要途径。由此可见,气候干旱和草地退化是影响草地生物量和碳密度的关键因素,系统研究黄土高原封禁草地生物量增长与碳密度变化过程,将会对未来全球气候变化分析作出重要贡献。