内蒙古退化草原中与小叶锦鸡儿相关的小尺度土壤碳、氮资源异质性动态

小叶锦鸡儿在内蒙古典型草原中有着广泛分布,从而对小空间尺度土壤资源异质性产生强烈影响。退化草原中小叶锦鸡儿能够通过克隆生长形成灌丛斑块,不同大小斑块对应于其发育的不同阶段。因此,通过对与不同大小灌丛斑块相关的土壤有机碳（SOC）、全氮（STN）空间分布状况的分析,能够推断内蒙古退化草原中、与小叶锦鸡儿相关的小尺度SOC与STN异质性动态。结果表明：在内蒙古退化草原中,就0-5cm,5-10cm,10-20cm 3个土壤层次,小叶锦鸡儿均导致了与灌丛斑块相关小尺度上SOC与STN分布的空间异质性,且随着灌丛斑块的发育,这种异质性均不断增强,其中土壤表层0-5cm碳氮资源异质性的增强最为强烈,表现在灌丛斑块内部相对于外部（或边缘）对SOC与STN富集程度均显著增加。这表明内蒙古退化草原中,随着灌丛斑块自身的扩展,与小叶锦鸡儿相关小尺度上土壤碳氮资源空间异质性趋于增强。     

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。     

内蒙古典型草原灌丛化对生物量和生物多样性的影响

通过样方调查,研究了内蒙古典型草原不同退化程度草地中小叶锦鸡儿 (Caragana microphylla Lam.)灌丛斑块空间分布格局、草地生物量及生物多样性特征。结果表明,从轻度到中度、重度退化草地,草本植物生物量呈减少趋势,小叶锦鸡儿生物量呈增加趋势,总生物量呈先减少后增加趋势;灌丛斑块生物多样性呈增加趋势,草地斑块生物多样性呈先减少后增加趋势,其中轻度退化草地中灌丛斑块生物多样性低于草地斑块,中度和重度退化草地中灌丛斑块生物多样性高于草地斑块。本研究认为,内蒙古典型草原灌丛化过程中,生态系统可能存在草本植物占优势或小叶锦鸡儿占优势这样两种稳定状态,这两种状态能维持较高生物量和生物多样性,而在由草本植物占优势向小叶锦鸡儿占优势转化的过渡阶段,系统不稳定,仅能维持较低生物量和生物多样性。     

宁夏东部荒漠草原灌丛引入过程中土壤有机碳变化及其空间格局预测

以宁夏荒漠草原封育草地、放牧地为对照,对不同年限(3、12、22年)和间距(2、8、40 m)柠条地开展灌丛引入对土壤有机碳(SOC)的影响研究,并模拟预测该地区人工灌丛引入过程中0～40 cm土层SOC空间特征及格局.结果表明: SOC含量随着柠条灌丛引入年限增加和间距的减小而呈增加趋势,各年限和间距柠条灌丛地SOC均值分别比放牧地高42.7%和32.8%,且均与封育草地无显著差异,但SOC的增加趋势在灌丛引入22年出现降低,降幅为27.0%.SOC空间异质性表明,研究区内人工灌丛引入后0～40 cm土层SOC含量为0.21～26.04 g·kg^-1,均值为3.75 g·kg^-1,变异系数为90.9%～114.7%;0～5、15～40 cm土层符合高斯模型,5～15 cm土层符合球状模型;0～5、5～15 cm土层变程均小于15～40 cm土层,三者分别为3.11、3.00和10.10 km.0～5、5～15 cm土层SOC的块金系数C₀/(C₀+C)为0.2%～16.3%,具有强烈的空间相关性;15～40 cm土层的块金系数为36.9%,为中等程度相关.人工灌丛引入过程中加速了退化荒漠草地0～40 cm土层SOC的累积与固定,同时加剧了土壤表层SOC空间异质性、破碎化,且与封育14年荒漠草地SOC含量无显著差异,其空间异质性、破碎化程度随土层深度增加均呈减弱趋势.     

浑善达克沙地小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的空间异质性

豆科锦鸡儿属(C arag ana)植物因其可以生物固氮而在草原生态系统中具有特殊的地位。定量分析小叶锦鸡儿(C arag anam icrophy lla)灌丛在浑善达克沙地不同生境条件下的分布格局,有助于理解植被与土壤养分循环之间的关系和合理制定退化沙地的恢复对策。采用地统计学中的半方差分析和分形分析两种方法研究了浑善达克沙地小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的空间分布格局,分析了不同生境中小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的植被、土壤水分和养分间的相关性。结果表明:(1)小叶锦鸡儿灌丛在3种生境条件下(滩地、固定沙丘和半固定沙丘)的盖度、土壤有机质和全氮的空间分布符合球状模型,空间自相关显著;(2)土壤pH值在滩地和固定沙丘的空间分布符合球状模型且空间自相关显著,但在半固定沙丘空间自相关不显著;(3)土壤水分在3种生境中的空间分布都符合线性模型,空间自相关显著。(4)植被的变异尺度(变程)小于各个土壤要素的变异尺度。植被(小叶锦鸡儿灌丛)的分布和形成过程决定了土壤养分的分布和形成过程。当地的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛在养分“沃岛”现象的形成中起了重要作用,合理的利用和布局当地的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的分布,可以更加有效地补充草地生态系统的养分,从而有利于加快生态系统的恢复进程。     

小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)灌丛对草本群落特征的影响

基于干旱、半干旱草原灌丛化现象的发展，探究灌木与草本之间的关系对深刻理解灌丛化对草原植物群落特征的影响机制具有重要意义。然而，很少有研究考虑草地类型和灌丛斑块大小对灌木和草本植物之间关系的影响。在内蒙古典型草原和荒漠草原的自由放牧草地上选择了18个小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化样地进行野外采样，并调查了不同大小灌丛和周围草地的植物群落特征。运用单因素方差分析(one-way ANOVA)和最小显著差异法(LSD)来检验不同大小灌丛斑块内外的植被群落特征(高度、密度、地上生物量、凋落物量)和植物多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数、丰富度指数、群落Sprensen相似性系数)的差异性。结果表明：(1)与草地相比，两种草原类型的灌丛产生、捕获了更多的凋落物，灌丛的保育作用显著提高了斑块内草本植物的高度，但灌丛占用了生存空间和资源，从而降低了斑块内草本植物的密度和地上生物量。(2)灌丛对多年生草本植物的地上生物量有明显的抑制作用，但对两种草原类型的一、二年生草本植物没有显著影响(典型草原中的小灌丛除外)。(3)两种草原类型的灌丛对草本植物多样性的影响存在差异。典型草原灌丛内多样性...     

平茬对小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化草原土壤微生物群落的影响

为了明确土壤微生物群落组成和结构对草原灌丛平茬处理的响应,并分析土壤微生物群落组成、结构与土壤理化性质及地上部植物群落的关系,本研究以小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化的退化草原为对象,对小叶锦鸡儿灌丛实施平茬处理并设置未平茬对照,处理3个月后,对两种处理条件下灌丛间植物群落的组成和结构及土壤理化性质进行测定,并运用磷脂脂肪酸(phospholipid fatty acid,PLFA)生物标记法分析两种处理下0～5和15～20 cm土层土壤微生物群落组成和结构。结果显示:(1)与对照相比,平茬样方植物群落地上总生物量有下降趋势,主要表现在褐沙蒿生物量的下降,物种数及Shannon指数显著增加,0～5 cm土壤p H显著降低,而15～20 cm土壤全碳、全氮及碳氮比显著提高; 0～5 cm土壤总PLFAs、格兰氏阳性菌(G~+)、格兰氏阴性菌(G~-)、细菌(B)、真菌(F)以及放线菌(Act) PLFAs含量显著增加,G~+/G~-显著降低。(2)冗余分析结果表明,土壤p H与G~+PLFAs含量呈正相关,与G~-、F及Act PLFAs含量呈负相关;土壤全氮与G~+、G~-、F及Act PLFAs含量均呈正相关;Shannon指数与G~+PLFAs含量呈负相关,与G~-、F及Act PLFAs含量呈正相关;地上总生物量与G~-、F及Act PLFAs含量呈负相关。这些结果表明了土壤微生物群落组成和结构能够对草原灌丛平茬处理引起的地上部植物群落及土壤环境条件的变化快速响应,对土壤健康状况具有指示作用,可为内蒙古灌丛化草原的恢复提供科学指导。     

晋西北黄土高原丘陵区不同土地利用方式下土壤碳氮储量

对晋西北黄土高原丘陵区杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林、小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛、杨树人工林、撂荒地和农田5种土地利用方式下土壤碳氮储量进行研究.结果表明: 不同土地利用方式下土壤碳氮含量、碳氮密度和碳氮储量存在显著差异.5种土地利用方式0～20 cm表层土壤碳氮含量和碳氮密度均显著大于20～40 cm和40～60 cm土层.5种土地利用方式同一土层碳氮含量和碳氮密度大小为: 杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林>小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛>杨树人工林>撂荒地>农田;0～60 cm土层土壤有机碳储量大小为:杨树-小-叶锦鸡儿人工林(30.09 t·hm^-2)>小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛(24.78 t·hm^-2)>杨树人工林(24.14 t·hm^-2)>撂荒地(22.06 t·hm^-2)>农田(17.59 t·hm^-2);土壤氮储量与有机碳储量变化规律相似,杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林0～60 cm土层土壤氮储量(4.94 t·hm^-2)最高,其次是小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛(3.53 t·hm^-2)、杨树人工林(3.51 t·hm^-2)和撂荒地(3.40 t·hm^-2),农田土壤氮储量(2.71 t·hm^-2)最低.杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林和小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛是晋西北黄土高原丘陵区植被建设和生态恢复过程中较好的两种土地利用方式.     

围封禁牧对小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化草原群落组成和结构的影响

典型草原向灌丛化草原的转变是过度放牧引起的重要结果之一。为研究内蒙古地区小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化草原对围封禁牧的响应,在内蒙古锡林郭勒典型草原退化区选取小叶锦鸡儿成片分布的典型地段,自2003年,分别设置禁牧样区和放牧样区。于2008—2011年连续四年调查禁牧样区小叶锦鸡儿种群生长和生理生化指标及灌丛间群落基本特征,并将2011年禁牧样区与放牧样区小叶锦鸡儿种群与灌丛间群落进行比较。结果显示:(1)围封后小叶锦鸡儿种群开始衰退,主要体现在种群盖度的降低和叶片氮磷含量(特别是磷含量)有所降低,而个体构件生长状况无显著差异;(2)灌丛间群落的物种组成随围封年限增加发生显著变化:禁牧后1年生植物逐渐退出群落,多年生丛生禾草重要值随围封年限增加而显著增加,即围封禁牧对小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化草原的群落恢复有积极作用;(3)小叶锦鸡儿种群盖度与多年生丛生禾草的重要值显著负相关,说明两者之间存在竞争关系,推测多年生丛生禾草的竞争是禁牧后小叶锦鸡儿衰退的重要原因。     

羊草和小叶锦鸡儿的水分生理特点

羊草(Leymus chinense)属中-广旱生根茎禾草。小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)属旱生灌木。常镶嵌分布于羊草草原中,形成独特的灌丛化草原群落。羊草根系浅,集中于0—20cm 的土层中。小叶锦鸡儿根系深,可扎到数米深的土层中。它     

浙江天童地区常绿阔叶林退化对土壤养分库和碳库的影响

为了解常绿阔叶林退化对土壤碳库和养分库的影响,采用空间代替时间的研究方法,以常绿阔叶林顶级群落为参照,选择了次生常绿阔叶幼年林、次生针阔混交林、次生针叶林、灌丛和灌草丛代表不同的退化类型,分别对其土壤氮磷养分库、碳库进行了调查和分析。结果表明：土壤氮库贮量从大到小依次为,成熟常绿阔叶林、次生常绿阔叶幼年林、灌丛、次生针叶林、灌草丛和次生针阔混交林;土壤总磷含量也是在成熟林最高,次生针阔混交林和次生针叶林的总磷含量显著高于次生常绿阔叶幼年林和灌丛;土壤有机碳含量从高到低依次为：成熟常绿阔叶林,次生针叶林、次生常绿阔叶幼年林、灌丛、灌草丛和次生针阔混交林;土壤铵态氮在成熟林、灌丛和灌草丛的库容量最大,其次分别为次生幼年常绿阔叶林、次生针阔混交林,最小的为次生针叶林;硝态氮则在灌草丛的库容量最大,其次分别为次生针叶林、次生针阔混交林和成熟林针叶林,最小的为次生常绿阔叶幼年林和灌丛。统计显示,常绿阔叶林退化不仅导致土壤有机碳库含量的显著下降,也使得土壤氮磷养分库含量显著下降。可以认为,砍伐导致的大量生物量输出和森林管理措施的影响,植物种类组成的改变,土壤物理性质的改变以及养分和有机碳的主要生物化学转化环节发生改变是导致此类变化的主要因素,常绿阔叶林顶极群落土壤是该地区土壤的最大养分库和碳库。     

人工油松林（Pinus tabulaeformis）恢复过程中土壤微生物生物量C、N的变化特征

采用时空替代法,选取15a（PF15）、25a（PF25）、30a（PF30）的人工油松林作为样地,并选取灌丛作为参考植被,研究了植被恢复过程中土壤微生物生物量C、N以及土壤养分的变化特征,同时探讨了它们之间的相互关系。研究结果表明随着恢复的进行,土壤质量得到了改善,主要表现为有机碳、全氮、粘粒含量、土壤含水量的上升和pH值、容重的下降。土壤微生物生物量C、N分别在155.00~885.64mg/kg和33.73~237.40mg/kg的范围内变化。土壤微生物生物量C、N在植被恢复的初期显著低于灌丛,而后随着恢复的进行逐步增长。土壤微生物生物量C、N与植被恢复时间的相关性没有达到统计学上的显著水平,但是土壤微生物生物量C与土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷呈显著正相关,这表明植被恢复过程中土壤微生物生物量与土壤养分状况关系密切,植被恢复通过改善土壤养分状况间接地影响土壤微生物生物量的变化。Cmic/TOC在1.38%~4.75%的范围内变化。Cmic/TOC随着植被恢复不断下降,Cmic/TOC与植被恢复时间和土壤有机碳呈显著负相关,这表明植被恢复过程中,惰性有机质积累导致供应土壤微生物的活性有机质减少,Cmic/TOC同时受土壤有机质的数量和质量影响。     

宁夏东部荒漠草原灌丛引入对土壤水分动态及亏缺的影响

全球气候变化背景下,荒漠草原人工灌丛引入加速其灌丛化进程,对草原土壤水分产生重要影响。为了解宁夏东部荒漠草原灌丛引入过程中土壤水分动态及亏缺现状,选取了封育草地、放牧草地、不同年限(3a、12a、22a)和间距(40 m、6 m、2 m)灌丛柠条(Caragana korshinskii)地进行土壤水分测定,并利用土壤水分相对亏缺指数(compared soil water deficit index,CSWDI)、样地土壤水分相对亏缺指数(plot compared soil water deficit index,PCSWDI)对土壤水分亏缺进行定量分析。结果表明:灌丛引入过程中不同年限、间距灌丛地0—200 cm土层土壤含水量均显著低于封育草地与放牧地(P0.05);各样地季节动态均表现为春季返潮、夏季消耗、秋季蓄积的季节规律,但不同年限、间距灌丛地表现为春季返潮微弱,土壤含水量仅为7.80%—10.90%,显著低于封育草地和放牧地(11.90%—16.09%);灌丛引入过程中各灌丛地0—100 cm有效储水量(-16.98—18.69 mm)均低于封育草地(34.67 mm),虽在种植22a灌丛地和2 m间距灌丛地略有升高,仍不足20.00 mm。土壤水分相对亏缺量(除封育草地外)为6.69—97.16mm;灌丛引入过程中各样地不同土层CSWDI值呈波动变化,除封育草地各土层无显著的亏缺外,其他样地均存在亏缺,亏缺值为0.03—12.10,PCSWDI值均随着灌丛引入年限和密度的增加呈增大趋势。荒漠草原灌丛引入过程产生土壤水分过度利用,使得土壤水分亏缺,并加剧其深层土壤水分的消耗。     

Shrub canopies influence soil temperatures but not nutrient dynamics: An experimental test of tundra snow–shrub interactions

Shrubs are the largest plant life form in tundra ecosystems; therefore, any changes in the abundance of shrubs will feedback to influence biodiversity, ecosystem function, and climate. The snow–shrub hypothesis asserts that shrub canopies trap snow and insulate soils in winter, increasing the rates of nutrient cycling to create a positive feedback to shrub expansion. However, previous work has not been able to separate the abiotic from the biotic influences of shrub canopies. We conducted a 3‐year factorial experiment to determine the influences of canopies on soil temperatures and nutrient cycling parameters by removing ~0.5 m high willow (Salix spp.) and birch (Betula glandulosa) shrubs, creating artificial shrub canopies and comparing these manipulations to nearby open tundra and shrub patches. Soil temperatures were 4–5°C warmer in January, and 2°C cooler in July under shrub cover. Natural shrub plots had 14–33 cm more snow in January than adjacent open tundra plots. Snow cover and soil temperatures were similar in the manipulated plots when compared with the respective unmanipulated treatments, indicating that shrub canopy cover was a dominant factor influencing the soil thermal regime. Conversely, we found no strong evidence of increased soil decomposition, CO₂ fluxes, or nitrate or ammonia adsorbtion under artificial shrub canopy treatments when compared with unmanipulated open tundra. Our results suggest that the abiotic influences of shrub canopy cover alone on nutrient dynamics are weaker than previously asserted.     

腾格里沙漠人工植被区固沙灌木影响深层土壤水分的动态模拟研究

灌木是我国沙漠地区主要的优势植物类型,固沙灌木的存在有益于沙丘的固定进而有利于退化沙漠生态系统的生态恢复。基于腾格里沙漠沙坡头地区50多年的人工植被区长期观测研究,建立生态-水文模型模拟了该地区固沙灌木盖度和深层土壤水分的动态变化过程,结果表明,固沙灌木的建立改变了沙区原有的生态-水文过程,在固沙灌木建立40多年后,固沙灌木的盖度和深层土壤水分达到了新的平衡状态。灌木盖度逐渐稳定在(10±0.9)%左右,而深层土壤水分稳定在(2.58±0.2)%左右。因此,在年均降雨量为186mm的腾格里沙漠沙坡头地区,土壤水分的最大植被承载力为:灌木和生物土壤结皮的盖度分别维持在10%和60%,深层土壤水分维持在3%左右。     

湖南乌云界自然保护区典型生态系统的土壤持水性能

土壤持水性能是决定生态系统水源涵养能力的关键,是自然保护区生态服务功能的重要方面。以湖南省乌云界自然保护区为研究区域,选取森林、灌丛、竹林和草地4个典型生态系统,采用野外调查采样和室内分析的方法研究了土壤的物理性质和持水性能。结果表明,乌云界4种典型植被下表层0—20cm土壤有机质含量普遍较高(>76 g/kg)、容重较低(<0.85 g/cm3)、团聚体稳定性较强(>5mm水稳性团聚体达22.7%—52.3%),表明保护区土壤的结构发育总体上较好。森林和竹林土壤具有较多的大孔隙和较高的饱和导水率,有利于天然降水向地下水的转化,而灌丛和草地土壤毛管孔隙度则相对较高,其土壤中能够保持更多的有效水分。乌云界自然保护区4个典型生态系统0—40cm土层土壤重力水容量为:森林(83.5 mm)>竹林(79.2mm)>灌丛(66.9 mm)>草地(43.8 mm),有效水容量为:草地(128.7 mm)>灌丛(111.6 mm)>森林(95.9 mm)>竹林(83.9mm)。在明晰土壤总蓄水容量(>0 MPa)、重力水容量(0—0.01 MPa)、有效水容量(0.01—1.5 MPa)、无效水容量(>1.5 MPa)等概念的基础上,建议用重力水容量和土壤有效水容量两个指标来评价生态系统土壤的水源涵养功能,其中土壤重力水容量可以反映生态系统补充地下水和调控河川径流量的能力,而土壤有效水容量可以反映生态系统本身保蓄水分的潜力,这些指标均可以通过土壤水分特征曲线进行求算。乌云界自然保护区森林和竹林土壤对于补充地下水和调控河川径流量的能力较强,而灌丛和草地土壤保蓄水分的能力较强。     

Vegetation cover of forest, shrub and pasture strongly influences soil bacterial community structure as revealed by 16S rRNA gene T-RFLP analysis

Bacterial community structure is influenced by vegetation, climate and soil chemical properties. To evaluate these influences, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and cloning of the 16S rRNA gene were used to analyze the soil bacterial communities in different ecosystems in southwestern China. We compared (1) broad-leaved forest, shrub and pastures in a high-plateau region, (2) three broad-leaved forests representing a climate gradient from high-plateau temperate to subtropical and tropical regions and (3) the humus and mineral soil layers of forests, shrub lands and pastures with open and restricted grazing activities, having varied soil carbon and nutrient contents. Principal component analysis of the T-RFLP patterns revealed that soil bacterial communities of the three vegetation types were distinct. The broad-leaved forests in different climates clustered together, and relatively minor differences were observed between the soil layers or the grazing regimes. Acidobacteria dominated the broad-leaved forests (comprising 62% of the total clone sequences), but exhibited lower relative abundances in the soils of shrub (31%) and pasture (23%). Betaproteobacteria was another dominant taxa of shrub land (31%), whereas Alpha- (19%) and Gammaproteobacteria (13%) and Bacteriodetes (16%) were major components of pasture. Vegetation exerted more pronounced influences than climate and soil chemical properties.     

不同土地利用方式下赤红壤生物学性状及其与土壤肥力的关系

以我国华南地区典型坡地的赤红壤为对象,研究了不同土地利用方式(新垦旱地、灌木林、桉树林及果园)下土壤微生物性状、酶活性及其与土壤肥力的关系.结果表明: 不同土地利用方式下土壤生物学性质差异极显著.其中,果园土壤的微生物数量和酶活性显著增加;新垦旱地土壤的呼吸速率显著增加,微生物数量、酶活性显著下降;灌木林和桉树林则介于果园和新垦旱地之间,且两者具有高度的相似性.不同土地利用方式下的土壤微生物数量和酶活性与土壤有机碳、大部分养分之间存在显著正相关;高有机质含量和高肥力水平的土壤有利于微生物的生长和酶活性的提高.     

Influence of large termitaria on soil characteristics, soil water regime, and tree leaf shedding pattern in a West African savanna

Termitaria are major sites of functional heterogeneity in tropical ecosystems, through their strong influence on soil characteristics, in particular soil physico-chemical properties and water status. These factors have important consequences on nutrient availability for plants, plant spatial distribution, and vegetation dynamics. However, comprehensive information about the influence of termite-rehandled soil on soil water regime is lacking. In a humid shrubby savanna, we characterized the spatial variations in soil texture, soil structure and maximum soil water content available for plants (AWC max) induced by a large termite mound, at three deepths (0–0.10, 0.20–0.30 and 0.50–0.60 m). In addition, during a three month period at the end of the rainy season, soil water potential was surveyed by matrix sensors located on the termite mound and in the surrounding soil at the same depths and for the 80–90 cm layer. Concurrently, the leaf shedding patterns of two coexisting deciduous shrub species exhibiting contrasted soil water uptake patterns were compared for individuals located on termite mounds and in undisturbed control areas. For all the soil layers studied, clay and silt contents were higher for the mound soil. Total soil clods porosity was higher on the mound than in control areas, particularly in the 0.20-0.60 m layer, and mound soil exhibited a high shrinking/swelling capacity. AWC_max of the 0-0.60 m soil layer was substantially higher on the termite mound (112 mm) than in the surroundings (84 mm). Furthermore, during the beginning of the dry season, soil water potential measured in situ for the 0.20-0.90 m soil layer was higher on the mound than in the control soil. In contrast, soil water potential of the 0-0.10 m soil layer was similar on the mound and in the control soil. In the middle of the dry season, the leaf shedding pattern of Crossopteryx febrifuga shrubs (which have limited access to soil layers below 0.60 m) located on mounds was less pronounced than that of individuals located on control soil. In contrast, the leaf shedding pattern of the shrub Cussonia barteri (which has a good access to deep soil layers) was not influenced by the termite mound. We conclude that in this savanna ecosystem, termite mounds appear as peculiar sites which exhibit improved soil water availability for plants in upper soil layers, and significantly influence aspects of plant function. Implications of these results for understanding and modelling savanna function and dynamics, and particularly competitive interactions between plant species, are discussed.     

Shrub expansion stimulates soil C and N storage along a coastal soil chronosequence

Expansion of woody vegetation in grasslands is a worldwide phenomenon with implications for C and N cycling at local, regional and global scales. Although woody encroachment is often accompanied by increased annual net primary production (ANPP) and increased inputs of litter, mesic ecosystems may become sources for C after woody encroachment because stimulation of soil CO₂ efflux releases stored soil carbon. Our objective was to determine if young, sandy soils on a barrier island became a sink for C after encroachment of the nitrogen‐fixing shrub Morella cerifera, or if associated stimulation of soil CO₂ efflux mitigated increased litterfall. We monitored variations in litterfall in shrub thickets across a chronosequence of shrub expansion and compared those data to previous measurements of ANPP in adjacent grasslands. In the final year, we quantified standing litter C and N pools in shrub thickets and soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (TN) and soil CO₂ efflux in shrub thickets and adjacent grasslands. Heavy litterfall resulted in a dense litter layer storing an average of 809 g C m^?2 and 36 g N m^?2. Although soil CO₂ efflux was stimulated by shrub encroachment in younger soils, soil CO₂ efflux did not vary between shrub thickets and grasslands in the oldest soils and increases in CO₂ efflux in shrub thickets did not offset contributions of increased litterfall to SOC. SOC was 3.6–9.8 times higher beneath shrub thickets than in grassland soils and soil TN was 2.5–7.7 times higher under shrub thickets. Accumulation rates of soil and litter C were highest in the youngest thicket at 101 g m^?2 yr^?1 and declined with increasing thicket age. Expansion of shrubs on barrier islands, which have low levels of soil carbon and high potential for ANPP, has the potential to significantly increase ecosystem C sequestration.