Water-use process of two desert shrubs along a precipitation gradient in Horqin Sandy Land

Aims The determination of the source of plant water is an important research on the plant-water relationship in arid and semiarid regions and helps to understand the adaptation strategy of desert species to the dry environment. Plant water use pattern affects plant community composition and ecosystem water budget. This study aims to investigate the water use patterns of Caragana microphylla and Artemisia halodendron, two typical shrub species, under altered rainfall conditions in Horqin Sandy Land. Methods Water treatments include ambient rainfall (natural rainfall), 50% increase in rainfall (enhanced rainfall) and 50% decrease in rainfall (reduced rainfall) by artificially intercepting and redistributing natural rainfall. Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (δD and δ¹⁸O) were measured for xylem water, rainfall, and soil water in different soil layers (0-120 cm depth). The possible ranges of potential water sources used by C. microphylla and A. halodendron were calculated using the IsoSource model. Important findings 1) Alteration of ambient rainfall mainly affected the soil water condition in the shallow soil (0-30 cm). Increase in rainfall significantly increased the above- and below-ground biomass, and δ¹⁸O values of soil water declined with soil depth. 2) Under the enhanced rainfall treatment, A. halodendron mainly used the soil water in the shallow soil (0-40 cm) and C. microphylla was able to extract water from multiple soil layers. Under the reduced rainfall treatment, both species increasingly relied on extracting water from deeper soil layers, 60-80 cm for A. halodendron and 60-120 cm for C. microphylla. 3) For the natural rainfall treatment, in the wet season, the upper soil water was recharged by rainfall, C. microphylla and A. halodendron extract the shallow soil water (0-60 cm). However, in the dry season, soil water content was dramatically reduced, and main water sources for C. microphylla shifted from topsoil to deeper soil, and A. halodendron can use multiple layers of soil water. In summary, A. halodendron is more capable of exploring deeper soil moisture under reduced rainfall in comparison with C. microphylla, and is likely to be more adaptive to this water-limiting desert environment.     

氢同位素在内蒙古小叶锦鸡儿灌丛水分来源研究中的应用

小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)是我国内蒙古草原广泛分布的优势灌木, 目前国内外有关小叶锦鸡儿水分利用来源的定量研究较少。该文运用氢稳定同位素法, 分析了内蒙古小叶锦鸡儿木质部水和潜在水源(夏季降雨、冬季降雪和土壤水)的氢稳定同位素比率(δD)的季节变化, 发现小叶锦鸡儿在遮雨处理和自然状态下δD季节变化差异不明显, 分别为-101.36‰ ± 13.02‰和-101.18‰ ± 12.71‰。在遮雨处理条件下, 小叶锦鸡儿主要利用0-20 cm土壤层水分, 占其所利用水分的73.30% ± 16.14%; 自然状态下, 小叶锦鸡儿对0-20、20-60和60-100 cm不同土壤层土壤的水分利用较为均衡, 分别为34.66% ± 7.83%、32.44% ± 7.42%和32.90% ± 4.14%。该结果表明不同生境下灌木与草本的水分竞争可能是小叶锦鸡儿对不同土层水分利用差异的原因。结合两源模型分析了降雨对各土壤层的贡献率, 并用IsoSource多源混合模型分析了各土壤层对小叶锦鸡儿用水的贡献率, 发现降雨对小叶锦鸡儿的贡献率为42.65%-63.92%。该结果反映了小叶锦鸡儿对夏季降雨和冬季融雪的利用情况。     

Assessing environmental and physiological controls over water relations in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand through analyses of stable isotope composition of water and organic matter

This study investigated the influence of meteorological, pedospheric and physiological factors on the water relations of Scots pine, as characterized by the origin of water taken up, by xylem transport as well as by carbon isotope discrimination (Delta13C) and oxygen isotope enrichment (Delta18O) of newly assimilated organic matter. For more than 1 year, we quantified delta2H and delta18O of potential water sources and xylem water as well as Delta13C and Delta18O in twig and trunk phloem organic matter biweekly, and related these values to continuously measured or modelled meteorological parameters, soil water content, stand transpiration (ST) and canopy stomatal conductance (G(s)). During the growing season, delta18O and delta2H of xylem water were generally in a range comparable to soil water from a depth of 2-20 cm. Long residence time of water in the tracheids uncoupled the isotopic signals of xylem and soil water in winter. Delta18O but not Delta13C in phloem organic matter was directly indicative of recent environmental conditions during the whole year. Delta18O could be described applying a model that included 18O fractionation associated with water exchange between leaf and atmosphere, and with the production of organic matter as well as the influence of transpiration. Phloem Delta13C was assumed to be concertedly influenced by G(s) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (as a proxy for photosynthetic capacity). We conclude that isotope signatures can be used as effective tools (1) to characterize the seasonal dynamics in source and xylem water, and (2) to assess environmental effects on transpiration and G(s) of Scots pine, thus helping to understand and predict potential impacts of climate change on trees and forest ecosystems.     

降雨对高寒沙地不同林龄中间锦鸡儿水分利用特征的影响

为明确不同林龄中间锦鸡儿水分来源对降雨的响应,利用稳定同位素技术测定青海共和盆地不同林龄的中间锦鸡儿(4 a、9 a、17 a和31 a)在降雨前后土壤水、木质部水、地下水和雨水的δ²H、δ¹⁸O组成,运用Iso-Source模型计算植物对各潜在水源的利用比例。结果表明: 各林龄中间锦鸡儿的浅层(0～40 cm)土壤水δ²H、δ¹⁸O组成对降雨的响应最明显;降雨前后各林龄中间锦鸡儿的木质部水、土壤水分和地下水同位素值均位于当地大气降水线(LMWL)的右下侧,其截距和斜率均小于LMWL和全球大气降水线(GMWL),且降雨后中间锦鸡儿的木质部水和土壤水的同位素组成更趋近LMWL;降雨前,4 a和9 a中间锦鸡儿主要利用浅层土壤水,17 a中间锦鸡儿主要利用中层(40～90 cm)土壤水,31 a中间锦鸡儿主要利用深层土壤水;降雨后,各林龄中间锦鸡儿的吸水层位均为降雨补充的浅层土壤水;各林龄对地下水的利用率仅有1.8%～11.9%。说明不同林龄中间锦鸡儿的水分来源对降雨的响应方式相同,均优先利用降雨补充的浅层土壤水,对地下水的利用减少。     

Contrasting water sources and water‐use efficiency in coexisting desert plants in two saline‐sodic soils in northwest China

• Soil degradation resulting from various types of salinity is a major environmental problem, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Exploring the water‐related physiological traits of halophytes is useful for understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance. This knowledge could be used to rehabilitate degraded arid lands.
• To investigate whether different types of salinity influence the water sources and water‐use efficiency of desert plants (Karelinia caspia, Tamarix hohenackeri, Nitraria sibirica, Phragmites australis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Suaeda microphylla, Kalidium foliatum) in natural environments, we measured leaf gas exchange, leaf carbon and xylem oxygen isotope composition and soil oxygen isotope composition at neutral saline‐sodic site (NSS) and alkaline saline‐sodic site (ASS) in northwest China.
• The studied plants had different xylem water oxygen isotope compositions (δ¹⁸O) and foliar carbon isotope compositions (δ¹³C), indicating that desert plants coexist through differentiation in water use patterns. Compared to that at the NSS site, the stem water in K. caspia, A. sparsifolia and S. microphylla was depleted in ¹⁸O at the ASS site, which indicates that plants can switch to obtain water from deeper soil layers when suffering environmental stress from both salinity and alkalinisation. Alhagi sparsifolia had higher δ¹³C at the ASS site than at the NSS site, while K. caspia and S. microphylla had lower δ¹³C, which may have resulted from interspecific differences in plant alkali and salt tolerance ability.
• Our results suggest that under severe salinity and alkalinity, plants may exploit deeper soil water to avoid ion toxicity resulting from high concentrations of soluble salts in the superficial soil layer. In managed lands, it is vital to select and cultivate different salt‐tolerant or alkali‐tolerant plant species in light of local conditions.

     

A preliminary study of the responsiveness to seasonal atmospheric and rainfall patterns of wash woodland species in the arid Richtersveld

Seasonal carbon and water relations were compared among seven tree or shrub wash woodland species in the winter rainfall desert of the Richtersveld National Park, South Africa. Plants were generally aseasonal with respect to gas exchange, but responsive to rainfall events with respect to water relations and phenology. Relatively narrow annual ranges in potential evapotranspiration due to the maritime influence could explain why these plants respond more to fluctuations in water acquisition potential than to evaporative demand. Two species were summer-deciduous, but one of them (Ozoroa concolor) responded to aseasonal summer rainfall by leafing out and flowering. These two species had high shoot xylem water potentials when in leaf. All other species were sclerophyllous evergreens with low water potentials, particularly the shallow-rooted shrub Zygophyllum prismatocarpum, and Boscia albitrunca which may have a different rooting pattern to the other phreatophytes. The latter species was also unique due to its high leaf nitrogen contents, photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductances, despite very low leaf water potentials. Leaf stable carbon isotope composition C¹³C) varied between species (–22 to –27), but was lower than the mean for arid regions worldwide. The values indicated moderately high levels of water use efficiency, but a less conservative strategy in two species, including Boscia albitrunca. The affinities of these species to summer rainfall biomes, their apparent decline in the western arid regions in recent geological history following aridification, and their absence southwards in the winter rainfall regions, suggest that these wash species rely on sporadic summer rainfall events to some extent. They may be at risk if predicted increases in temperature and changes in rainfall patterns alter their effective moisture availability.     

北京山区干旱胁迫下侧柏叶片水分吸收策略

干旱与半干旱地区,水分是限制树木生长的重要影响因子。由于降水稀缺且分配不均,叶片吸收水分是此地区树木吸收和利用小量级降水和凝结水的主要方式。北京山区处于易旱少雨的生态脆弱地带,森林植被经常遭受干旱胁迫,所以对该地区的森林系统而言,叶片直接吸收利用截留的降雨是干旱时期树木获得水分的重要途径。基于野外对比控制试验和室内盆栽模拟试验,选取北京山区的主要造林树种侧柏为研究对象,进行利用天然降雨与模拟降雨试验,研究降雨前后侧柏叶片吸水特征,探究侧柏在干旱环境下如何通过叶片吸水缓解干旱胁迫。结果表明：当侧柏长期处于干旱胁迫状态时,叶片可以利用降雨,从中获益用来缓解树木的干旱胁迫状态;叶片的吸水能力与降雨强度呈正相关关系,与土壤含水率呈负相关关系;重度干旱下侧柏植株在降雨强度为15 mm/h时叶片吸水现象最明显,叶水势变化最大为(1.18±0.17) MPa,叶片含水率变化最大为(8.47±1.00)mg/cm~2;当土壤水率高于20.8%时,基本不发生叶片吸水现象。试验结果说明在干旱地区叶片吸水是树木除根系吸水外的重要水分来源方式,并且对干旱地区有效利用短缺水资源,减轻植物水分亏缺具有重要意义。     

内蒙古西鄂尔多斯荒漠区降水入渗氘同位素特征

探讨我国干旱半干旱地区大气降水在土壤剖面中的时空分布特征将为西鄂尔多斯荒漠退化生态系统恢复和维持提供科学依据.本研究利用氘同位素技术研究了内蒙古西鄂尔多斯荒漠的大气降水、土壤水、地下水中的氘同位素值(δD),运用二元线性混合模型计算降水对各层土壤水的贡献率,并结合土壤含水量分析了不同降水条件下土壤剖面各层土壤水δD的时空分布特征.结果表明: 雨后9 d内,小雨(0～10 mm)影响0～10 cm土壤含水量和土壤水δD值,对表层土壤(0～10 cm)的贡献率在30.3%～87.9%;中雨(10～20 mm)影响0～40 cm土壤含水量和土壤水δD值,对0～40 cm土壤水的贡献率为28.2%～80.8%;大雨(20～30 mm)和特大暴雨(＞30 mm)影响0～100 cm土壤含水量和土壤水δD值.降水对100～150 cm深层土壤水δD值影响不显著.西鄂尔多斯荒漠土壤水δD介于大气降水δD与地下水δD之间,表明西鄂尔多斯荒漠土壤水主要来源于大气降水与地下水.在同一降水强度下,表层土壤水(0～10 cm)受降水的直接影响显著,随着土壤深度的增加,土壤水δD变化幅度降低,100～150 cm深层土壤水δD基本趋于稳定.降水强度越大,对土壤水δD影响的时间越长,影响的土壤深度也越深.     

不同降水条件下两种荒漠植物的水分利用策略

自然降水是干旱、半干旱地区荒漠植物重要的水分来源。为了说明自然降水量的变化对干旱、半干旱地区荒漠植物水分利用策略的影响, 研究了两种常见荒漠植物油蒿(Artemisia ordosica)和白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)在3个不同自然降水地区(内蒙古的杭锦旗和磴口县及甘肃的民勤县)的水分来源、水分利用效率及植物的抗逆能力的变化。测定了不同地区的植物茎水、各潜在水源(降水、地下水和土壤水)的δD和δ¹⁸O值, 并利用IsoSource模型分析了这两种植物在不同地区对这些潜在水源的选择性利用情况; 同时测定了叶片的δ¹³C和游离脯氨酸浓度。结果表明: 在年降水量最高的杭锦旗, 这两种植物对浅层土壤水的利用比例最高, 其中油蒿主要利用0-50 cm土层中的水源; 在年降水量相对较低的磴口和民勤, 植物利用的主要水源为深层土壤水和地下水。随着年降水量的增加, 这两种植物的水分利用效率逐渐降低。白刺的脯氨酸浓度大于油蒿, 与水分利用效率无关, 但油蒿的水分利用效率和脯氨酸浓度成正比。研究表明, 荒漠植物能通过改变其水分利用策略和其他生理特性适应自然降水量的变化, 但不同植物种采用的策略可能有所不同。     

青海湖流域具鳞水柏枝植物水分利用氢同位素示踪研究

具鳞水柏枝(Myricaria squamosa)是我国高寒地区广泛分布的优势河谷灌木, 具有维持河谷湿地系统稳定的功能。然而, 目前国内外有关具鳞水柏枝水分利用来源的定量研究很少。该文运用氢稳定同位素示踪方法, 分析了青海湖流域具鳞水柏枝茎(木质部)水和潜在水源(地下水、河水和土壤水)的氢稳定同位素比率(δD)的季节变化, 发现具鳞水柏枝在不同水文环境下的植物水分利用来源有明显差异。研究结果表明, 生长在河岸边的具鳞水柏枝在6、7月主要利用地下水与河水, 分别占其所利用水分的89%、86%和55%、65%, 8月主要利用0-20 cm土层的土壤水, 9月水源不详。生长在离河岸约100 m处的具鳞水柏枝在6月主要利用地下水与河水(91%、70%), 在7-9月以0-60 cm土层的土壤水为主要水源。这表明生长在河岸边的具鳞水柏枝对地下水和河水的依赖程度较高, 而距离河岸约100 m时对土壤水的利用量较多, 反映出生长在不同生境中的具鳞水柏枝对特定水分条件的特殊适应结果。     

Comparative patterns of phenology and growth form diversity in two winter rainfall deserts: the Succulent Karoo and Mojave Desert ecosystems

A comparative study of community structure and seasonal growth dynamics in the arid winter rainfall regions of the Succulent Karoo in South Africa and the Mojave Desert of the United States suggests that remarkably divergent patterns of resource use and resultant growth form diversity exist in regions with outwardly similar climatic regimes. An understanding of these divergent patterns in the two winter rainfall deserts allows predictions to be made on vegetation response to global change. Above-ground plant growth in the Succulent Karoo begins with the first significant rains in late summer and continues through winter because moderate minimum temperatures allow continued growth. These communities have low structural diversity above-ground, but also below-ground, where root systems commonly do not exceed 20 cm in depth. These shallow root systems harvest water from upper soil horizons soon after rain falls, and growth declines as rainfall decreases in late spring. In contrast, low temperatures during winter inhibit growth in the Mojave Desert until early spring at a time when a mean 74% of the hydrologic year precipitation (July-June) has already occurred. Thus species in this structurally diverse system rely on deeper stores of water for growth in spring and early summer. A global change scenario of a 2 to 4°C increase in mean annual temperature and increased summer rainfall in the Mojave desert would be expected to produce similar conditions in the Mojave Desert to those that exist in the Succulent Karoo today. Assuming no genetic constraints on phenotypic plasticity, this would suggest increased species diversity and a decline in structural diversity in the Mojave Desert over evolutionary time. Increased summer rainfall in the Succulent Karoo would be expected to lead to invasions of grasses and thus increased competitive pressure reducing community diversity.     

Partitioning of water resources among plants of a lowland tropical forest

Source water used by plants of several species in a semi-evergreen lowland tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, was assessed by comparing the relative abundance of deuterium, D, versus hydrogen, H (stable hydrogen isotope composition, D) in xylem sap and in soil water at different depths, during the dry season of 1992. Ecological correlates of source water were examined by comparing xylem water D values with leaf phenology, leaf water status determined with a pressure chamber, and rates of water use determined as mass flow of sap using the stem heat balance method. Soil water D values decreased sharply to 30 cm, then remained relatively constant with increasing depth. Average D values were-13, for 0–30 cm depth and-36.7 for 30–100 cm depth. Soil water D values were negatively associated with soil water content and soil water potential. Concurrent analyses of xylem water revealed a high degree of partitioning of water resources among species of this tropical forest. Xylem water D of deciduous trees (average=-25.3±1.4) was higher than that of evergreen trees (average=-36.3±3.5), indicating that evergreen species had access to the more abundant soil water at greater depth than deciduous species. In evergreen shade-tolerant and high-light requiring shrubs and small trees, D of xylem water was negatively correlated with transpiration rate and leaf water potential indicating that species using deeper, more abundant water resources had both higher rates of water use and more favorable leaf water status.     

黄土高原不同降水区休闲期土壤贮水效率及其对冬小麦水分利用的影响

土壤贮水是影响黄土高原冬小麦生产力的最重要因素,分析休闲期贮水效率对有效利用水资源具有重要意义。利用黄土高原旱作区4个农业气象观测站土壤水分长期观测资料和冬小麦产量资料,探讨了不同气候区休闲期土壤贮水和耗水特征及对冬小麦水分利用的影响。结果表明:(1)黄土高原旱作区休闲期1 m土层多年平均贮水量半湿润区为9 1mm,贮水效率为30.7%,半干旱区为32 mm,贮水效率为16.5%,且不同降水年型、不同气候区休闲期贮水量和贮水效率差别较大;(2)黄土高原旱作区1 m土层贮水量从土壤解冻至封冻期间基本呈波谷型分布,休闲期为主要贮水阶段,冬小麦返青—开花期为休闲期贮水的主要消耗阶段。半湿润区休闲期土壤贮水量主要消耗在起身至开花期,半干旱区主要消耗在越冬至拔节期;(3)黄土高原旱作区播种—越冬前消耗0—40 cm土层贮水,越冬-起身期各土层贮水量都有消耗,起身—开花期半湿润区主要消耗0—40 cm土层贮水量、半干旱区主要消耗0—60 cm土层贮水量,开花—成熟期半湿润区主要消耗40 mm以下土层贮水量、半干旱区主要消耗60 cm以下土层贮水量;(4)黄土高原休闲期贮水效率与冬小麦产量显著相关,半湿润区水分利用效率远高于半干旱区。黄土高原不同区域降水时空分布不均和土壤贮水能力的差异是造成不同气候区休闲期水分贮存差异的主要原因,通过调整耕作方式、水肥管理、种植结构进一步实现冬小麦增产和水分高效利用。     

基于稳定同位素技术的塔里木河下游不同林龄胡杨的水分利用来源

水分是制约很多陆地生态系统植物生长和繁殖的重要因素, 在干旱地区尤为明显。利用稳定同位素技术探究塔里木河下游不同林龄胡杨(Populus euphratica)的水分来源情况, 了解生态输水背景下荒漠河岸林的水分利用循环与利用策略, 可为生态输水提供科学依据, 同时也可对同类地区的生态恢复提供借鉴。本研究通过测定塔里木河下游胡杨茎干水和各潜在水源(土壤水、地下水)的稳定氢氧同位素值(δD、δ¹⁸O), 应用多源线性混合模型(IsoSource)分析了各潜在水源对不同林龄胡杨的贡献比例, 并结合3种林龄胡杨不同土壤深度含水量的变化, 分析了胡杨的主要吸水层位。结果表明: (1)不同林龄胡杨样地的不同深度区间上的土壤水δ¹⁸O值存在显著差异(P < 0.05): 胡杨幼龄木、成熟木、过熟木木质部δ¹⁸O分别为-7.83 ± 0.07‰、-8.53 ± 0.11‰、-9.36 ± 0.21‰; 而δD值不存在显著差异(P > 0.05)。可据此来推断胡杨的主要吸水层位。(2)总体上, 三种林龄胡杨土壤水δ¹⁸O值随土壤深度增加而减小, 并趋于接近地下水的δ¹⁸O值。其中, 0-60 cm土壤水受蒸发影响比较大, 其同位素组成经历了强烈的蒸发分馏过程, 土壤含水量极少, 土壤水δ¹⁸O值偏正。(3)不同林龄胡杨所利用的水分来源不同: 胡杨幼龄木对于地表80 cm以下的土壤水以及地下水均有一定程度的利用, 对80-140 cm、140-220 cm和220-340 cm的土壤水平均利用比率依次为16.2%、21.4%和24.6%, 对地下水平均利用比率为24.5%; 成熟木主要利用220-340 cm的土壤水及地下水, 平均利用比率分别为36.9%和42.3%; 过熟木主要利用140-340 cm的土壤水及地下水, 平均利用比率分别为32.8%和49.3%。     

Deepened snow cover increases grassland soil carbon stocks by incorporating carbon inputs into deep soil layers

Climate-induced changes in snow cover can greatly impact winter soil microclimate and spring water supply. These effects, in turn, can influence plant and microbial activity and the strength of leaching processes, potentially altering the distribution and storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) across different soil depths. However, few studies have examined how changes in snow cover will affect SOC stocks, and even less is known about the impact of snow cover on SOC dynamics along soil profiles. By selecting 11 snow fences along a 570 km climate gradient in Inner Mongolia, covering arid, temperate, and meadow steppes, we measured plant and microbial biomass, community composition, SOC content, and other soil parameters from topsoil to a depth of 60 cm. We found that deepened snow increased aboveground and belowground plant biomass, as well as microbial biomass. Plant and microbial carbon input were positively correlated with grassland SOC stocks. More importantly, we found that deepened snow altered SOC distribution along vertical soil profiles. The increase in SOC caused by deepened snow was much greater in the subsoil (+74.7%; 40–60 cm) than that in the topsoil (+19.0%; 0–5 cm). Additionally, the controls on SOC content under deepened snow differed between the topsoil and subsoil layers. The increase in microbial and root biomass jointly enhanced topsoil C accumulation, while the increase in leaching processes became critical in promoting subsoil C accumulation. We conclude that under deepened snow, the subsoil had a high capacity to sink C by incorporating C leached from the topsoil, suggesting that the subsoil, originally thought to be climate insensitive, could have a higher response to precipitation changes due to vertical C transport. Our study highlights the importance of considering soil depth when assessing the impacts of snow cover changes on SOC dynamics.     

基于较大降水事件的人工固沙植被区植物水分来源分析

水分是干旱、半干旱地区植物生长最主要的限制因子.为了探究较大降水事件后两种常见人工固沙植物柠条与油蒿的水分来源差异,分析降水、土壤水、地下水和植物茎水的氢氧稳定同位素特征,并采用直接对比法和多元线性混合模型对植物水分来源进行分析.结果表明: 沙坡头地区大气降水线方程为δD=7.83δ¹⁸O+5.64(R²=0.91).降水δ¹⁸O值的变化范围较大,具有明显的季节变化规律;生长季前期与后期δ¹⁸O值相对较高,生长旺盛期δ¹⁸O处于较低水平.浅层土壤水δ¹⁸O值变化范围较大,随土层深度的增加,土壤水δ¹⁸O值变幅减小且呈减小趋势.在降水后第一天,柠条和油蒿分别对40～80与20～60 cm土层土壤水利用比例较高,利用比率分别为56.1%和56.4%.降水一周后,柠条与油蒿都不同程度地增加了对浅层土壤水的利用比例.柠条和油蒿对0～40和0～20 cm土层土壤水分利用率分别增加了12.5%和10%.表明在较大降水事件后,柠条和油蒿会通过调整水分利用策略来积极适应干旱环境.     

内蒙古典型草原小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化对水分再分配和利用的影响

灌丛化是全球草原地区存在的主要环境问题。通过对内蒙古典型草原区小叶锦鸡儿灌丛和草地斑块冠层降雨再分配、地表径流、土壤含水量的对比观测,研究了小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化对该区水分再分配和利用的影响。结果表明,灌丛和草地斑块的冠层截留量分别占降雨量的20.86%和7.88%,灌丛和草地斑块的平均地表径流系数分别为5.95%和17.19%。土壤含水量观测结果显示,0—60 cm土层中,降雨事件过程中,灌丛斑块较草地斑块能捕获更多水分,灌丛斑块植被冠层下方土壤含水量高于草地斑块;而在雨后无有效降水补充土壤水分的前提下,0—60 cm土层中,灌丛斑块土壤水分蒸散发量高于草地斑块,其中0—10cm土层中灌丛斑块土壤水分蒸散发速率低于草地斑块,10—60 cm土层中灌丛斑块土壤水分蒸散发速率高于草地斑块。研究认为,在水分为关键性限制因子的干旱半干旱区,小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化过程增加草原生态系统中水分分布的空间异质性,灌丛斑块能捕获、利用更多水分以维持更多的生物量。     

科尔沁沙地不同密度小叶锦鸡儿灌丛水量平衡研究

根据沙地水分平衡理论推算了不同栽植密度下小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的蒸散量.结果表明,小叶锦鸡儿灌丛生长期土壤水分含量随着植被密度增加而降低,0.5 m×1 m、1 m×2 m密度植被区平均土壤含水量低于凋萎湿度(1.55%),2 m×2 m密度植被和天然小叶锦鸡儿植被平均土壤含水量保持在1.60%以上,能够满足植被生存和生长的水分需求.蒸散量随着植被密度增加而增大,以0.5 m×1 m密度灌丛区最高,为297.81 mm,占同期降水量的97.90%;2 m×2 m密度灌丛区最低,为279.71 mm,生长期末期土壤水分节余为24.49 mm.依据生长期土壤水分状况和水分平衡要求,科尔沁沙地小叶锦鸡儿灌丛适宜密度应为2 m×2 m.     

沙漠腹地天然绿洲不同林龄胡杨水分利用来源

了解干旱荒漠绿洲区主要植被的水分利用来源,能为该区域植被保护和水资源的合理分配提供科学依据.本研究以达里雅布依天然绿洲胡杨幼龄木(胸径DBH≤10 cm)、成熟木(10 cm＜DBH≤40 cm)和过熟木(DBH＞40 cm)为对象,测定不同林龄胡杨木质部水和潜在水源(地表水、0～3m土层土壤水、地下水)的氧同位素,运...     

Monosoonal precipitation responses of shrubs in a cold desert community on the Colorado Plateau

South-eastern Utah forms a northern border for the region currently influenced by the Arizona monosoonal system, which feeds moisture and summer precipitation into western North America. One major consequence predicted by global climate change scenarios is an intensification of monosoonal (summer) precipitation in the aridland areas of the western United States. We examined the capacity of dominant perennial shrubs in a Colorado Plateau cold desert ecosystem of southern Utah, United States, to use summer moisture inputs. We simulated increases of 25 and 50 mm summer rain events on Atriplex canescens, Artemisia filifolia, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Coleogyne ramosissima, and Vanclevea stylosa, in July and September with an isotopically enriched water (enriched in deuterium but not ¹⁸O). The uptake of this artificial water source was estimated by analyzing hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of stem water. The predawn and midday xylem water potentials and foliar carbon isotope discrimination were measured to estimate changes in water status and water-use efficiency. At. canescens and Ch. nauseosus showed little if any uptake of summer rains in either July or September. The predawn and midday xylem water potentials for control and treatment plants of these two species were not significantly different from each other. For A. filifolia and V. stylosa, up to 50% of xylem water was from the simulated summer rain, but the predawn and midday xylem water potentials were not significantly affected by the additional summer moisture input. In contrast, C. ramosissima showed significant uptake of the simulated summer rain (>50% of xylem water was from the artificial summer rain) and an increase in both predawn and midday water potentials. The percent uptake of simulated summer rain was greater when those rains were applied in September than in July, implying that high soil temperature in midsummer may in some way inhibit water uptake. Foliar carbon isotope discrimination increased significantly in the three shrubs taking up simulated summer rain, but pre-treatment differences in the absolute discrimination values were maintained among species. The ecological implications of our results are discussed in terms of the dynamics of this desert community in response to changes in the frequency and dependability of summer rains that might be associated with a northward shift in the Arizona monsoon boundary.