青藏高原高寒草甸植物群落结构和功能对氮、磷、钾添加的短期响应

对中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站的矮嵩草草甸水肥样地进行了氮、磷、钾及其组合的施肥处理,研究了施肥对植物群落结构和功能的影响。结果表明:(1)施肥使矮嵩草草甸植物群落物种丰富度减少,不同施肥处理下物种丰富度大小分别为:对照钾磷氮氮磷磷钾氮钾氮磷钾。(2)在氮磷配合施肥处理下,矮嵩草草甸植物群落Shannon-Wiener指数显著高于对照,而其它施肥处理对Shannon-Wiener指数影响不显著。(3)在同一施肥处理下,禾草类和莎草类的重要值明显高于豆科和杂类草功能群,不同施肥处理使禾草、莎草、豆科植物的重要值增加,而杂类草重要值减少。(4)与对照相比,不同施肥(除钾外)处理可不同程度的增加植物群落的高度。(5)除钾、磷钾养分添加对矮嵩草草甸地上生物量的影响与对照差异不显著外,其它养分及其组合添加都极显著增加了群落地上生物量,且大小顺序依次为氮磷氮磷钾磷氮钾氮磷钾钾对照。(6)施用不同种类的肥料后,矮嵩草草甸各功能群地上生物量的比例变化明显,禾草和莎草的比例均增加,杂类草的比例减少,而豆科植物无规律性。(7)熵值法综合评价短期施肥处理对矮嵩草草甸群落的影响表明,氮磷、氮磷钾配合施肥是青藏高原高寒草甸最佳施肥选择。     

不同放牧强度下高寒灌丛植物的生长特点

 不同放牧强度下高寒灌丛植物在生长发育、生理生态,物质生产和群落结构等方面主要有以下变化：1．在高寒灌丛草场,禾草类、莎草类和灌丛类植物的叶面积指数和平均生长速率随着放牧强度的减轻而增大;随着放牧强度的增加而减小。植株平均高度,植被盖度水平也与放牧强度呈负相关(p<0.01)。2．各项生长分析参数中：叶面积比率(LAR)、叶面积干重比(SLA)和叶干重比(LWR)与放牧强度之间存在负相关。叶面积指数(LAI)与地上生物量呈正相关(p<0.5),地上部现存在量与放牧强度呈负相关(p<0.01)。3．不同放牧强度条件下,高寒灌丛中的禾草类、莎草类、灌丛类和杂类草植物的种类组成和数量变化明显。其中禾草类和莎草类、灌丛类植物的生物量和种类组成比例在重度放牧下减少,在轻度放牧下增大。反之,重度放牧下杂类草的组成和数量明显增加,而轻度放牧下其比例降低。     

高寒矮嵩草草甸群落植物多样性和初级生产力对模拟降水的响应

通过野外控制实验,研究了高寒矮嵩草草甸群落植物多样性、初级生产力对模拟降雨条件的响应.结果表明: 1 在植物生长期 6月 ,增加降雨20%、增加降雨40%,植物群落物种多样性指数 H 和均匀度指数 J 分别比对照提高了0.188和0.011、0.735和0.076,生长期 7月 增加降雨20%物种H和J提高了0.409和0.07; 2 禾草类:增加降雨20%处理的地上生物量与对照相比没有明显的显著性差异 P>0.05 ,增加降雨40%处理的地上生物量与对照相比差异显著 P<0.05 ,说明过多增加降雨会抑制禾草的生长发育.杂类草:减少降雨50%处理的地上生物量与对照相比差异显著 P<0.05 ,其地上生物量对减少降雨的反映比较敏感.莎草类:其地上生物量对增加和减少降雨都没有显著变化; 3 0～10cm和0～30cm土层地下生物量均在增加降雨20%时最高,地下生物量的总量也在增加降雨20%时最高; 4 矮嵩草草甸地下生物量与地上生物量、总生物量的比值接近于生长季末时最大,且在模拟增加降雨20%的水平时,7、8、9月份地下和地上生物量较其它处理组高.     

施肥对高寒草甸植物多样性和经济类群的影响

以地处青藏高原东部边缘的甘南高寒草甸为研究对象 ,研究了施肥对植物群落物种多样性和经济类群的影响 .2年的研究结果表明在沿着施肥水平增加的梯度上 ,高寒草甸物种丰富度、Sim pson指数、Shannon- Wiener指数和 Pielou均匀度指数均显著降低 .当施肥水平达到 12 0 g· m- 2 时 ,以不施肥为对照 ,在施肥的第 2年和第 3年 ,0 .2 5 m2面积种丰富度分别下降 15 .16 %和 73.93% ;Simpson指数降低 4 .6 8%和 34.75 % ;Shannon- Wiener指数下降 13.14 %和 5 5 .39% ;Pielou均匀度指数降低 8.6 2 %和 2 4 .6 1% .不同经济类群对施肥的响应不同 .禾草类地上生物量随施肥量的提高而增加 ,莎草类、豆科、杂类草和毒草地上生物量则随施肥量的提高总体上呈下降趋势 .以不施肥为对照 ,在 12 0 g· m- 2施肥水平下 ,地上生物量禾草类增加 5 74 .81% ,莎草类、豆科、杂类草和毒草分别减少 95 .4 1%、93.99%、6 2 .83%和 84 .0 6 % 施肥后 2年平均值 .当施肥水平达到 6 0 g· m- 2时 ,豆科在群落地上生物量的比例比不施肥下降 80 .94 % 14 .98% :2 .92 % ,从维持草地营养品质考虑 ,高寒草甸施肥量不应超过 6 0 g·m- 2水平 .以上结果为高寒草地的管理提供了定量依据     

江河源区高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸植物和土壤碳、氮储量对覆被变化的响应

以青海省果洛州藏族自治州甘德县青珍乡高山嵩草Kobresia pygmaea草甸轻度退化草地和重度退化草地为研究对象,通过植物地上部分主要功能群(禾草类、杂类草、莎草类)、植物根系和土壤碳、氮浓度及储量动态研究,结果表明:高寒小嵩草草甸轻度退化草地地上部分主要功能群碳、氮浓度和C ∶ N比值明显高于重度退化草地的浓度.同一草地类型主要功能群比较,碳、氮浓度依次为杂类草>禾草类>莎草类;植物地上部分的碳、氮浓度明显高于地下根系的碳、氮浓度.重度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度高于轻度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度.重度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度显著低于轻度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度,随着土层的加深碳、氮浓度有减少的趋势.江河源区高山嵩草草甸的土壤有机碳、氮储量最大,植物根系碳、氮储量居中,植物地上部分碳、氮储量最小.重度退化草地总有机碳储量(13554.3 g/m2)较轻度退化草地储量(14669.2 g/m2)下降7.60%.其中,0～40cm土壤层碳储量下降4.10%,植物根系碳储量下降59.97%,植物地上部分碳储量下降15.39%;重度退化草地总氮储量(3780.6 g/m2)较轻度退化草地储量(3352.7 g/m2)高12.76%,其中,0～40cm土壤中总氮储量高13.07%,植物根系全氮储量下降55.09%,植物地上部分全氮下降16.00%.由于草地退化损失有机碳11149 kg/hm2,而全氮增加4278 kg/hm2.     

青藏高原典型草地植被退化与土壤退化研究

采用野外样方调查和室内分析法,探讨了青藏高原不同退化程度高寒草原和高寒草甸植被群落结构、植物多样性、地上-地下生物量、根系分配及土壤理化特性差异。研究表明:(1)随着退化程度加剧,高寒草原禾草优势地位未改变,高寒草甸优势种莎草逐渐被杂类草取代。(2)随着退化程度加剧,高寒草原地上生物量显著降低(P0.05),高寒草甸地上生物量先保持稳定再下降。高寒草甸地下生物量较高寒草原地下生物量对退化响应更敏感。(3)高寒草原退化过程中,莎草地上物生量变化不明显(P0.05),禾草地上生物量贡献率由88.12%减少至53.54%,杂类草地上生物量贡献率由0.08%增加至42.81%;高寒草甸退化过程中,禾草和杂类草地上生物量先增加后减小,莎草地上生物量占比由69.15%减少至0.04%,杂类草地上生物量占比由12.56%增加至92.61%。(4)随着退化程度加剧,高寒草原根系向浅层迁移,高寒草甸根系向深层迁移。(5)退化对高寒草甸土壤含水量(θ)、土壤有机碳(SOC)、总氮(TN)及土壤容重(BD)影响均比高寒草原更强烈。本研究对青藏高原退化草地恢复治理具有重要的参考价值。     

江河源区高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸植物和土壤碳、氮储量对覆被变化的响应

以青海省果洛州藏族自治州甘德县青珍乡高山嵩草Kobresia pygmaea草甸轻度退化草地和重度退化草地为研究对象，通过植物地上部分主要功能群（禾草类、杂类草、莎草类）、植物根系和土壤碳、氮浓度及储量动态研究，结果表明：高寒小嵩草草甸轻度退化草地地上部分主要功能群碳、氮浓度和C∶N比值明显高于重度退化草地的浓度。同一草地类型主要功能群比较，碳、氮浓度依次为杂类草>禾草类>莎草类；植物地上部分的碳、氮浓度明显高于地下根系的碳、氮浓度。重度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度高于轻度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度。重度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度显著低于轻度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度，随着土层的加深碳、氮浓度有减少的趋势。江河源区高山嵩草草甸的土壤有机碳、氮储量最大，植物根系碳、氮储量居中，植物地上部分碳、氮储量最小。重度退化草地总有机碳储量（13554.3 g/m2）较轻度退化草地储量（14669.2 g/m2）下降7.60%。其中，0～40cm土壤层碳储量下降4.10%，植物根系碳储量下降59.97%，植物地上部分碳储量下降15.39%；重度退化草地总氮储量（3780.6 g/m2）较轻度退化草地储量（3352.7 g/m2）高12.76%，其中，0～40cm土壤中总氮储量高13.07%，植物根系全氮储量下降5509%，植物地上部分全氮下降16.00%。由于草地退化损失有机碳11149 kg/hm2，而全氮增加4278 kg/hm2。     

内蒙古东部线叶菊草地生物量与净第一性生产力的初步研究

 线叶菊草地总地上生物量的增长规律符合Logistic增长,最大值出现在8月中旬,为198.15g／m2。返青后,线叶菊较同群落内的禾草和杂类草提前达到其生物量最大值。线叶菊、禾草和杂类草的地上生物量的增长与降水量和≥5℃积温呈显著或极显著正相关。地下生物量的季节变化曲线大致为“U”字形,最低值出现在8月中旬,而在早春和秋末时期地下生物量基本相等。地下生物量最大值出现在10月中旬,为1608.5g／m2(干物质)。该草地地上部分净第一性生产力为256.74gm2·a,地下部分为599.51g／m2·a(干物重计)。将生长季内以凋落物形式损失的生物量计算在内,得到的地上净第一性生产力比用极大现存量法估测的结果高出29.57%。     

不同类型高寒草地群落结构与生产对施氮的响应及其敏感性

大气氮沉降增加被认为是目前重要的环境问题,会引起生物多样性的丧失和生态系统稳定性的降低。但作为草地改良的管理措施,养分添加被广泛应用于退化草地的恢复。但由于不同类型草地所处气候与群落组成的差异,对氮输入的响应可能不同。通过在藏北高原高寒草甸与高寒草甸草原设定长期氮添加梯度试验(对照, 25, 50, 100, 200 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1)),来探讨氮输入对生物多样性与生产的影响,并估算不同类型高寒草地的氮饱和阈值。施氮对高寒草甸物种多样性指数无影响,而随着施氮量的提高高寒草甸草原植物物种数和多样性指数均逐渐降低。开始施肥前两年,随着施氮量提高高寒草甸地上生物量呈现逐渐增加趋势,随着施肥时间的延长地上生物量呈现先增加后降低的趋势。在高寒草甸草原随着施氮量提高地上生物量均呈现先增加后降低的趋势。随着施氮量提高,开始施氮前三年高寒草甸禾草植物地上生物量逐渐提高;随着施氮时间的延长,禾草和豆科植物地上生物量呈现先增加后降低的趋势。高寒草甸莎草植物地上生物量由施氮开始时的逐渐增加转变为先增加后降低趋势,最后变为逐渐降低的趋势,这说明施氮不利于莎草植物的生长。施氮只在施肥第四年显著提高杂草植物地上生物量。高寒草甸草原呈现不同的规律,开始施氮前三年随着施氮量提高,禾草植物地上生物量呈现先增加后降低的趋势;随着施氮时间的延长,禾草地上生物量逐渐提高。莎草和杂草植物地上生物量呈现先增加后降低趋势。利用对氮输入响应最敏感的植物功能群禾草生物量估算的高寒草甸和高寒草甸草原的氮饱和阈值分别是109.5、125.8 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1),这说明高寒草甸氮敏感性显著高于高寒草甸草原。由此可见,未来氮沉降增加会对不同类型高寒草地产生不同的影响,在不同类型高寒草地进行施肥恢复时也应将氮饱和阈值的差异考虑在内。     

青海海北地区矮嵩草草甸生物量和能量的分配

 此项研究工作于1980年在海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站进行。本文研究了青藏高原地区分布面积广、草质优良,在畜牧业生产中有重要意义的矮嵩草草甸的生物量和它的能量分配关系,测定了地上,地下生物量和不同物候期主要植物类群的热值含量。研究结果表明：矮嵩草草甸生物量的季节动态较为明显,地上生物量随生长季节的水热条件和植物的生长发育阶段而变化,9月初地上生物量达到峰值(296.66g／m2),此后生物量逐渐减少,到枯黄前而停止;地下根系生物量在返青期较高,生长旺盛期最低,枯黄期最高,这同植物生长发育阶段的物质运转有关。矮嵩草草甸主要植物类群的热值以生长旺盛期最高,枯黄期次之,返青期较低;各类草的热值,以莎草类最高,禾草类次之,杂类草最低。矮嵩草草甸总初级生产量为909.49g／m2·年,其中地上为296.66g／m2·年,地下为596.67g／m2·年,枯枝落叶为16.16g／m2·年。群落在不同生长期所固定的太阳能数值不一,以枯黄前所固定的太阳能为最多,生长期整个群落的光能利用率为0.295%。     

青藏高原高寒沼泽湿地在退化梯度上植物群落组成的改变对湿地水分状况的影响

对青藏高原东缘玛曲高寒沼泽湿地分属于15科的47种主要植物进行光合测定, 结合对不同退化类型植物群落的样方调查, 分析了各种植物之间以及不同功能群之间的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率等光合参数的差异。结果表明: 1)玛曲高寒湿地的主要物种在净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率4个光合特性参数上的差异显著, 表明各植物种以各自独特的方式适应高寒湿地环境; 在功能群水平上, 各功能群之间的差异亦显著。光合速率从大到小依次为禾草>莎草>豆科和其他双子叶类杂草, 水分利用效率则是莎草>禾草>豆科和其他双子叶类杂草; 2)湿地退化导致其群落组成发生明显改变, 其中最明显的特点是双子叶类杂草的比例大大增加; 而双子叶类杂草普遍较低的水分利用效率将会增大土壤水分通过光合作用的蒸腾散失, 在大气降水对水分补充变化不大的条件下, 这将会进一步加剧群落生境的干旱化, 不利于退化湿地的恢复和附近湿地的保护。研究结果表明, 在湿地保护和退化湿地恢复过程中, 典型湿地土著物种的保存和补充具有重要意义。     

Changes in individual plant traits and biomass allocation in alpine meadow with elevation variation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Plant traits and individual plant biomass allocation of 57 perennial herbaceous species, belonging to three common functional groups (forbs, grasses and sedges) at subalpine (3700 m ASL), alpine (4300 m ASL) and subnival (⩾5000 m ASL) sites were examined to test the hypothesis that at high altitudes, plants reduce the proportion of aboveground parts and allocate more biomass to belowground parts, especially storage organs, as altitude increases, so as to geminate and resist environmental stress. However, results indicate that some divergence in biomass allocation exists among organs. With increasing altitude, the mean fractions of total biomass allocated to aboveground parts decreased. The mean fractions of total biomass allocation to storage organs at the subalpine site (7%±2% S.E.) were distinct from those at the alpine (23%±6%) and subnival (21%±6%) sites, while the proportions of green leaves at all altitudes remained almost constant. At 4300 m and 5000 m, the mean fractions of flower stems decreased by 45% and 41%, respectively, while fine roots increased by 86% and 102%, respectively. Specific leaf areas and leaf areas of forbs and grasses deceased with rising elevation, while sedges showed opposite trends. For all three functional groups, leaf area ratio and leaf area root mass ratio decreased, while fine root biomass increased at higher altitudes. Biomass allocation patterns of alpine plants were characterized by a reduction in aboveground reproductive organs and enlargement of fine roots, while the proportion of leaves remained stable. It was beneficial for high altitude plants to compensate carbon gain and nutrient uptake under low temperature and limited nutrients by stabilizing biomass investment to photosynthetic structures and increasing the absorption surface area of fine roots. In contrast to forbs and grasses that had high mycorrhizal infection, sedges had higher single leaf area and more root fraction, especially fine roots.     

Hierarchical responses of plant stoichiometry to phosphorus addition in an alpine meadow Community北大核心CSCD

Aims Terrestrial carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) stoichiometry will reflect the effects of adjustment to local growth conditions as well as species' replacements. However, it remains unclear about the hierarchical responses of plant C:N:P to P addition at levels of species and functional groups in the N-limited alpine meadow. Methods A field experiment of P enrichment was conducted in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau during 2009-2013. The stoichiometric patterns of four functional groups (grass, sedge, legume and forb) and five representative species, Elymus nutans (grass), Kobresia humilis (sedge), Oxytropis ochrocephala (legume), Taraxacum lugubre (rosette forb), Geranium pylzowianum (upright forb) were investigated in 2013, and the effects of P addition on species dominance and plant biomass were also analyzed. Important findings Both plant nutrition content and C:N:P varied significantly after five years' P addition, and the responses were consistent at species-And functional group (exemplar species excluded)-levels in the alpine meadow. P addition had neutral effect on C concentrations of grasses, sedges and forbs at both species-And functional group (exemplar species excluded)-levels. P fertilization increased plant P concentrations and thus decreased C:P and N:P of the four functional groups (exemplar species excluded) and the corresponding species. N concentrations significantly decreased and C:N increased in grasses and sedges after P addition, and the species-level responses were consistent with the functional group (exemplar species excluded) level. P addition significantly increased N contents and decreased C:N in Oxytropis ochrocephala, but had neutral effect on N contents and C:N at the functional group (exemplar species excluded) level of the legumes. While N contents and C:N in forbs responded to P addition differently at species and functional group (exemplar species excluded) levels. In the N-limited alpine meadow, species dominance of grasses increased gradually after P addition due to the increased N and P use efficiencies, while the biomass proportion of forbs decreased because of the lowered nutrition use efficiency. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All rights reserved.     

Plant biodiversity and ethnobotany of Borana pastoralists in Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

A survey of plant biodiversity and ethnobotanical studies was conducted in southern Ethiopia using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions, interviews and questionnaires. Species richness, growth forms and uses of native wild plants are described. Borana pastoralists distinguished and named 86% of the plant species identified. A total of 327 plant species distributed among 197 genera and 69 families are documented: 40% are trees/shrubs, 30% forbs (non-woody plants other than grasses and sedges), 16% grasses, 10% climbers, 2% sedges and 2% succulents. Based on richness of species and usefulness, the most important families are Poaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. Two hundred forty-eight species (76%) are used by Borana pastoralists, out of which 42% have multiple uses. Indigenous knowledge of pastoralists on use and management of their plant resources is a valuable source of information for conservation and sustainable utilization of the plant biodiversity and, hence, conservation based on indigenous knowledge is recommended.     

Effects of seasonal fire,bison grazing and climatic variation on tallgrass prairie vegetation

We used univariate and multivariate techniques to evaluate vegetation-environment relationships for plant functional groups on a tallgrass prairie site in northern Oklahoma, USA burned seasonally and grazed by bison (Bison bison L.). The objective of the study was to identify important environmental variables associated with variation in residual aboveground standing crop (phytomass) and abundance of plant functional groups. Phytomass was predictably linked to season, with highest levels found in the latter portion of the growing season when the warm-season tallgrasses that dominated the site were most actively growing. When the effects of seasonal phenology were removed, stepwise regression revealed that phytomass variation was best explained by year-to-year climatic variation, seasonal burn type, and bison grazing. Phytomass was negatively related to bison grazing under all conditions. A number of plant functional groups responded to individual environmental variables: relative abundance levels of tallgrasses, little bluestem, annual grasses, forbs and legumes all varied with burn season; little bluestem, annual grasses, and sedges varied by topoedaphic position, while forbs exhibited a positive relationship with bison grazing intensity. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to directly relate composition patterns of functional groups to environmental variables. CCA bi-plot of the ordination revealed that annual grasses were most closely associated with summer fires; sedges were associated with fall burns and the 1995 sampling year; legumes associated with a gradient representing the length of time since fire; while tallgrasses and little bluestem ordinated nearest a gradient representing bison grazing. Forbs and perennial grasses did not clearly associate with any particular environmental gradient, suggesting they were either simultaneously affected by several parameters or that environmental attributes important to these groups were not measured. Total phytomass and sedges were strongly influenced by yearly climatic variation. Relative abundance of some plant functional groups was principally determined by a single factor, while others were equally influenced by a suite of environmental interactions.     

小麦与蚕豆间作系统氮肥调控对小麦白粉病发生及氮素累积分配的影响

通过田间小区试验,设N₀(0 kg·hm^-2)、N₁(112.5 kg·hm^-2)、N₂( 225 kg·hm^-2)、N₃( 337.5 kg·hm^-2) 4个施氮水平,研究不同施氮水平下小麦与蚕豆间作对小麦白粉病发生、植株氮含量和氮素累积分配的影响,探讨间作系统氮肥调控下小麦植株氮素含量、氮素累积分配与白粉病发生的关系.结果表明: 无论单作还是间作,施氮(N₁、N₂和N₃)均增加了小麦籽粒产量,以N₂水平下产量最高,单、间作分别为4146和4679 kg·hm^-2;施氮加重了小麦白粉病的发生与危害,N₁、N₂和N₃水平下病害进展曲线下的面积(AUDPC)分别平均增加39.6%～55.6%(基于发病率DI)和92.5%～217.0%(基于病情指数DSI),病情指数受氮素调控的影响较发病率大;施氮显著提高小麦植株氮含量(8.4%～51.6%)和氮素累积量(19.7%～133.7%),对氮素分配比例无显著影响.与单作相比,间作小麦产量平均增加12.0%;AUDPC(DI)和AUDPC(DSI)分别平均降低11.5%和30.7%,间作对病情指数的控制效果优于发病率.间作显著降低发病盛期小麦氮含量、阶段累积量和叶片中氮素分配比例(降幅6.6%～12.5%、1.4%～6.9%和9.0%～15.5%).在本研究条件下,兼顾控病效果和产量效应,小麦施氮量不应超过225 kg·hm^-2.     

青藏高原区域不同功能群植物氮磷生态化学计量学特征

生态化学计量学为揭示植物养分利用状况及植物对环境的适应策略提供了重要手段,研究不同功能群植物在区域尺度生态化学计量学特征中所产生的贡献,有助于揭示区域尺度植物元素特征的形成机制。已有研究多是从不同功能群植物元素生态化学计量学特征的比较上进行分析,未能对每种功能群植物元素含量随地理因子和气候因子的变化规律展开探讨。基于生态化学计量学理论,对青藏高原区域不同功能群植物(豆科、禾本科、莎草科、杂类草)叶片水平N、P元素含量随纬度、海拔、年降水量、年均温度的变化规律展开研究,探讨不同植物功能群在区域尺度植物生态化学计量学特征中所产生的贡献,尝试从植物功能群角度揭示青藏高原高寒区域N、P元素含量特征的形成机制。结果显示,1)不同功能群植物叶片元素含量差异显著,豆科植物N、P元素含量最高,禾本科植物N、P含量最低,N/P比值在不同功能群间差异不显著;2)随纬度变化,莎草科植物P元素及杂类草N元素含量变化显著;随海拔变化,豆科、禾本科植物及杂类草叶片N元素含量变化较为显著;随年降水量和年均温度的变化,杂类草和莎草科植物叶片N、P含量变化显著;3)莎草科植物N、P含量对纬度和降水的响应趋势与区域内所有植物叶片N、P含量对纬度和降水的响应趋势一致,豆科、禾本科及杂类草植物叶片元素含量对海拔和温度的响应趋势与区域内所有植物叶片元素平均含量对海拔和温度的响应趋势一致。研究表明,不同功能群植物元素特征对环境因子的响应不同,植物功能群组成对区域尺度植物生态化学计量学特征有重要作用,但在较大的植物结构层次上(如植物群落、生态系统、区域或全球尺度等),不同功能群植物之间的相互组合会抵消或掩盖掉某一类群的特性,从而对区域尺度植物元素特征的变化规律产生影响。     

Plant community and tissue chemistry responses to fertilizer and litter nutrient manipulations in a temperate grassland

Human-mediated nutrient amendments have widespread effects on plant communities. One of the major consequences has been the loss of species diversity under increased nutrient inputs. The loss of species can be functional group dependent with certain functional groups being more prone to decline than others. We present results from the sixth year of a long-term fertilization and litter manipulation study in an old-field grassland. We measured plant tissue chemistry (C:N ratio) to understand the role of plant physiological responses in the increase or decline of functional groups under nutrient manipulations. Fertilized plots had significantly more total aboveground biomass and live biomass than unfertilized plots, which was largely due to greater productivity by exotic C₃ grasses. We found that both fertilization and litter treatments affected plant species richness. Species richness was lower on plots that were fertilized or had litter intact; species losses were primarily from forbs and non-Poaceae graminoids. C₃ grasses and forbs had lower C:N ratios under fertilization with forbs having marginally greater %N responses to fertilization than grasses. Tissue chemistry in the C₃ grasses also varied depending on tissue type with reproductive tillers having higher C:N ratios than vegetative tillers. Although forbs had greater tissue chemistry responses to fertilization, they did not have a similar positive response in productivity and the number of forb species is decreasing on our experimental plots. Overall, differential nutrient uptake and use among functional groups influenced biomass production and species interactions, favoring exotic C₃ grasses and leading to their dominance. These data suggest functional groups may differ in their responses to anthropogenic nutrient amendments, ultimately influencing plant community composition.     

Patch dynamics in grazed subtropical native pastures in south‐east Queensland

Abstract Patch formation is common in grazed grasslands but the mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of patches are not clear. To increase our knowledge on this subject we examined possible reasons for patch formation and the influence of management on changes between patch states in three experiments in native pasture communities in the Crows Nest district, south‐east Queensland. In these communities, small‐scale patches (tall grassland (dominated by large and medium tussock grasses), short swards (dominated by short tussock grasses and sedges), and lawns (dominated by stoloniferous and/or rhizomatous grasses)) are readily apparent. We hypothesized that the formation of short sward and lawn patches in areas of tall grassland was due to combinations of grazing and soil fertility effects. This was tested in Experiment 1 by applying a factorial combination of defoliation, nutrient application and transplants of short tussock and stoloniferous species to a uniform area of tall grassland. Total species density declined during the experiment, was lower with high nutrient applications, but was not affected by defoliation. There were significant changes in abundance of species that provided support for our hypotheses. With light defoliation and low nutrients, the tall grassland remained dominated by large tussock grasses and contained considerable amounts of forbs. With heavy defoliation, the pastures were dominated by medium tussock grasses and there were significant decreases in forbs and increases in sedges (mainly with low nutrients) and stoloniferous grasses (mainly with high nutrients). Total germinable seed densities and those of most species groups were significantly lower in the heavy defoliation than the light defoliation plots. Total soil seed numbers were not affected by nutrient application but there were fewer seeds of the erect forbs and more sedge seeds in plots with high nutrients. The use of resting from grazing and fire to manage transitions between patches was tested. In Experiment 2 , changes in species density and abundance were measured for 5 years in the three patch types with and without grazing. Experiment 3 examined the effects of fire, grazing and resting on short sward patches over 4 years. In Experiment 2 , total species density was lower in lawn than short sward or tall grassland patches, and there were more species of erect forbs than other plant groups in all patch types. The lawn patches were originally dominated by Cynodon spp. This dominance continued with grazing but in ungrazed patches the abundance of Cynodon spp. declined and that of forbs increased. In the short sward patches, dominance of short tussock grasses continued with grazing but in ungrazed plots their abundance declined while that of large tussock grasses increased. The tall grassland patches remained dominated by large and medium tussock species. In Experiment 3 , fire had no effect on species abundance. On the grazed plots the short tussock grasses remained dominant but where the plots were rested from grazing the small tussock grasses declined and the large tussock grasses increased in abundance. The slow and relatively small changes in these experiments over 4 or 5 years showed how stable the composition of these pastures is, and that rapid changes between patch types are unlikely.     

东北虎豹国家公园东部有蹄类栖息地的灌草层食物资源的量与质

东北虎和东北豹主要捕食马鹿、梅花鹿、狍  及野猪等大中型有蹄类动物,而这些有蹄类的生存依赖森林灌草层的植食性食物资源,形成了东北亚温带森林生态系统完整的啃食食物链 (grazing food chain) 主体。本研究通过对建设中的东北虎豹国家公园东部地区有蹄类栖息地的灌草层植物进行本底调查,获得有蹄类动物的食物资源基线数据。2015年及2016年生长季,在东北虎豹国家公园东部,随机选择141个样地嵌套496条样线,1948个样方,对不同森林结构 (郁闭林及开阔生境,开阔生境包括林窗、林缘和河岸带) 的灌草层植物生物量、食物类别组成 (嫩枝叶、禾莎草、杂类草和蕨类) 及碳、氮含量进行调查分析。研究结果显示：灌草层生物量在开阔生境显著高于郁闭林下 (94.91 g/m² vs. 30.15 g/m²),达到3.15倍。三种开阔生境下的灌草层食物资源类别组成差异显著,在林窗内以嫩枝叶优势,在林缘以杂类草占优势,在河岸带以蕨类占优势。灌草层中杂类草和嫩枝叶平均氮含量高,杂类草碳含量低、C/N低;四类植物热值均超17kJ/g,其中嫩枝叶最高。嫩枝叶、杂类草占优势的高生物量 (生物量大于40 g/m²) 斑块占郁闭林下的16 %、占开阔生境的50 %左右,可能是精食者 (browser) 的取食热点区域。建议在未来国家公园建设中,在合适的地段保留一定的开阔生境,为梅花鹿等食草动物补充高质量的灌草层食物资源斑块,促进有蹄类动物种群发展,并以此为基础恢复虎豹种群。