Distribution,community characteristics and classification of Stipa tianschanica var. klemenzii steppe in China

Stipa tianschanica var. klemenzii steppe is the most typical formation of desert steppe in China. Based on the primary plots data obtained from fieldworks during the growing seasons from 2010 to 2016 as well as some earlier records, we studied the Stipa tianschanica var. klemenzii steppe across China systematically, including the eco-geographical distributions, community characteristics and classifications. The results showed that S. tianschanica var. klemenzii steppe distributed mainly on the Ulan Qab Plateau and western Xilin Gol Plateau. Due to the arid biotope of S. tianschanica var. klemenzii steppe, quantitative characteristics of the assemblage including height, coverage, biomass and species richness were normally lower than that of most Stipa formations in Eurasian steppe region. Moreover, 165 seed plants belonging to 85 genera and 29 families were recorded in the 80 study sites, in which rare species (occurrence frequency <20%) made up 87% of the total plants while common species and constant species could only be found occasionally. Species with the occurrence frequency exceeding 50% included S. tianschanica var. klemenzii, Convolvulus ammannii, Cleistogenes songorica, Allium tenuissimum. In addition, Hemicryptophyte and therophyte were the two dominant life forms, covering 55% and 20% of the species, respectively. As for the ecological type of water, typical xerophytes accounted for 47% of all species which is followed by super-xerophytes and meso-xerophytes. Middle Asian areal-type and east Palaeo-North areal-type were the two major floristic elements, containing 37% and 26% of the species, respectively. Based on the life forms and dominances of the species within the community, S. tianschanica var. klemenzii steppe in China could be classified into 6 association groups, 29 associations.     

Responses of growth and litterfall production to nitrogen addition treatments from common shrublands in Mt. Dongling,Beijing, China

Aims The shrublands of northern China have poor soil and nitrogen (N) deposition has greatly increased the local soil available N for decades. Shrub growth is one of important components of C sequestration in shrublands and litterfall acts as a vital link between plants and soil. Both are key factors in nutrient and energy cycling of terrestrial ecosystems, which greatly affected by nitrogen (N) addition (adding N fertilizer to the surface soil directly). However, the effects and significance of N addition on C sequestration and litterfall in shrublands remain unclear. Thus, a study was designed to investigate how N deposition and related treatments affected shrublands growth related to C sequestration and litterfall production of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla and Spiraea salicifolia in Mt. Dongling region of China.
Methods A N enrichment experiment has been conducted for V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands in Mt. Dongling, Beijing, including four N addition treatment levels (control (N₀, 0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), low N (N₁, 20 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), medium N (N₂, 50 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1) and high N (N₃, 100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)). Basal diameter and plant height of shrub were measured from 2012-2013 within all treatments, and allometric models for different species of shrub’s live branch, leaf and root biomass were developed based on independent variables of basal diameter and plant height, which will be used to calculate biomass increment of shrub layer. Litterfall (litterfall sometimes is named litter, referring to the collective name for all organic matter produced by the aboveground part of plants and returned to the surface, and mainly includes leaves, bark, dead twigs, flowers and fruits.) also was investigated from 2012-2013 within all treatments.
Important findings The results showed 1) mean basal diameter of shrubs in the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands were increased by 1.69%, 2.78%, 2.51%, 1.80% and 1.38%, 1.37%, 1.59%, 2.05% every year; 2) The height growth rate (the shrub height relative growth rate is defined with the percentage increase of plant height) of shrubs in the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands were 8.36%, 8.48%, 9.49%, 9.83% and 2.12%, 2.86%, 2.36%, 2.52% every year, respectively. Thee results indicated that N deposition stimulated growth of shrub layer both in V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands, but did not reach statistical significance among all nitrogen treatments. The above-ground biomass increment of shrub layer in the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands were 0.19, 0.23, 0.14, 0.15 and 0.027, 0.025, 0.032, 0.041 t C·hm^-2·a^-1 respectively, which demonstrated that short-term N addition had no significant effects on the accumulation of C storage of the two shrublands. The litter production of the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia communities in 2013 were 135.7 and 129.6 g·m^-2 under natural conditions, respectively. Nitrogen addition promoted annual production of total litterfall and different components of litterfall to a certain extent, but did not reach statistical significance among all nitrogen treatments. Above results indicated that short-term fertilization, together with extremely low soil moisture content and other related factors, lead to inefficient use of soil available nitrogen and slow response of shrublands to N addition treatments.     

土壤呼吸作用普适性评估模型构建的设想

土壤呼吸作用是陆地碳循环中的重要组成部分, 其评估的准确性直接影响到陆地碳源/汇的准确评估. 对国内外土壤呼吸作用最新研究成果的综述表明, 目前土壤呼吸作用研究主要集中于时间变异性及其影响因子方面, 没有研究同一生态系统内部及不同类型生态系统土壤呼吸作用的空间变异性及其影响因素; 土壤呼吸作用估算模型大多亦只考虑了水热因子的影响, 没有发展一个适于不同的时间与空间尺度的、耦合水热-生物-土壤养分综合影响的土壤呼吸作用普适性模型. 为此, 本研究从影响土壤呼吸作用的时间和空间异质性方面提出了构建土壤呼吸作用普适性评估模型的思想与基本框架, 以及未来的研究重点, 以增进对土壤呼吸作用的理解, 提高土壤呼吸作用估算的准确性.     

田野菟丝子(Cuscuta campestris)寄生对薇甘菊(Mikania micrantha)入侵群落土壤微生物 生物量和酶活性的影响

比较分析了广东省内伶仃岛薇甘菊未入侵群落、薇甘菊入侵群落、田野菟丝子刚寄生的薇甘菊入侵群落和田野菟丝子寄生3a的薇甘菊入侵群落的土壤化学特性、微生物生物量碳氮磷及土壤酶活性的变化,旨在探讨薇甘菊入侵如何改变土壤特性及田野菟丝子的寄生如何改变薇甘菊入侵地土壤特性.薇甘菊入侵群落土壤的pH值(6.046)、有机碳(35.937 g·kg-1) 、全氮(2.449 g·kg-1)、有机氮(2.383 g·kg-1)和氨态氮(0.051 g·kg-1)含量要显著地高于薇甘菊未入侵群落土壤(5.593,29.512 g·kg-1, 0.800 g·kg-1, 0.722 g·kg-1, 0.043 g·kg-1),而土壤硝态氮含量(0.015 g·kg-1)要显著地低于薇甘菊未入侵群落土壤(0.033 g·kg-1),土壤全磷和有效磷没有明显的差异;薇甘菊入侵群落土壤的微生物生物量碳、氮、磷、土壤酸性磷酸酶、脲酶和β-D-葡萄糖苷酶活性要显著地高于薇甘菊未入侵群落土壤.田野菟丝子寄生可以使薇甘菊入侵地的土壤pH值(5.634)、有机碳(27.225 g·kg-1) 、全氮(1.836 g·kg-1)、有机氮(1.793 g·kg-1)和氨态氮(0.024 g·kg-1)含量显著性下降,对于全磷、有效磷和硝态氮则无明显影响;同时田野菟丝子寄生可以使土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷、土壤酸性磷酸酶、脲酶及β-D-葡萄糖苷酶活性显著下降,但改变后的土壤与未入侵地之间仍具有一定的差异.田野菟丝子寄生达3a的薇甘菊入侵地的土壤总有机碳(35.719 g·kg-1)、全氮(2.356 g·kg-1)、有机氮(2.304 g·kg-1)和氨态氮(0.040 g·kg-1)含量相对于寄生早期显著增加,有机碳、全氮、有机氮等含量恢复到薇甘菊入侵地的水平,与未入侵地之间存在显著性差异;田野菟丝子寄生时间对土壤微生物生物量氮磷及土壤酸性磷酸酶和β-D-葡萄糖苷酶活性无显著性影响,但微生物生物量碳及脲酶活性显著升高,甚至超出薇甘菊入侵地.薇甘菊入侵可以改变土壤微生物生物量和酶活性,最终改变土壤化学特性,有利于其入侵;而田野菟丝子寄生可以打破土壤微生物生态系统的动态平衡,引起土壤微生物生物量和酶活性的改变,而最终又引起土壤化学特性的改变.此研究结果对于评价薇甘菊入侵的后果、田野菟丝子防治的可能机制及带来的后果具有重要的意义.     

巴山冷杉的种实特性及其种子萌发力

对我国特有树种巴山冷杉(Abies fargesi)的球果长、球果宽、球果重量、单果出种量等球果特征和种子长、种子宽、种子厚和种子重等种子特性进行了分析,通过发芽实验测定了种子萌发能力.结果表明,巴山冷杉球果平均长5.37±0.75cm,球果宽3.01±0.32cm,球果重量18.93±6.06g,单果出种量59-567粒,种子长1.08-8.68mm,种子宽1.16-6.42mm,种子厚0.6-3.48mm,千粒重7.30g.各项球果特征指标和种子特征指标在种群内和种群间均存在显著差异,单果出种量在不同种群的频数分布格局不同.不同母树的种子发芽率和发芽势不等,且萌发速率也不相同.巴山冷杉种子败育率高,参试种子的空粒率75.79%.     

Carbon cycle of larch plantation based on CO2FIX model

Aims
Plantations play important roles in modifying regional carbon budget and maintaining regional carbon balance. In this study, we assessed larch plantation (Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii) carbon dynamics in Weichang County from a perspective of the forest biomass-soil-wood-products chain. Our objectives were to elucidate the carbon sink capacity of larch plantation and the influences of biomass, soil and wood product pools on carbon balance.
Methods
CO2FIX model was used to evaluate the carbon storage and flow of larch plantation over a time span of 120 years. Input data for model were derived from practical investigations and published papers. We validated the simulated results and found that this model was suitable in the region and the simulated results were reliable.
Important findings
(1) Soil was the largest carbon pool for larch plantation and the wood product pool had the smallest carbon storage. Meanwhile, carbon storage in wood products gradually increased with time. (2) In a rotation of 50 years from secondary poplar-birch forest to larch plantation, 250 t C·hm^-2 was sequestrated by the larch plantation. 70% of the carbon was transferred into soil in the form of litter and logging slash and the other 30% was transferred into wood products. (3) Larch plantation was a carbon sink during most of its growing period and turned to temporary carbon source when it was harvested. Larch plantation could sequestrate about 0.3 t C·hm^-2·a^-1 in the long term. Our results indicated the importance of wood product carbon pool in carbon dynamics of plantation, which facilitated our understanding in the carbon dynamics and capacity of plantation.     

恢复状态下羊草（Leymus chinensis）草原植被根冠比动态及影响因子

利用内蒙古羊草草原围栏样地连续两年的地上、地下生物量数据和当地同时期的降水、气温资料，分析了退化羊草草原，在恢复过程中植被根冠比动态及与水热因子之间的关系。研究结果表明：（1）羊草草原植被地上、地下生物量季节变化均呈单峰型曲线，峰值出现在8月。（2）羊草草原植被根冠比具有明显的季节变化，生长季初和生长季末根冠比值较大，最低值出现在地上生物量最高的8月中下旬。（3）羊草草原植被月根冠比与上上月月降水量相关关系极显著，与七月平均气温相关关系显著；以根冠比为因变量，上上月月降水量、上月平均气温为自变量可分别建立线性回归方程。该方程可以较好地模拟羊草草原植被生长季内月根冠比的动态变化，这样在草地恢复过程中，可由上月的水热因子来指导下月的草地管理，并为更准确地估算草原生态系统生产力及碳储存动态提供重要参数。     

小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化对典型草原群落结构与生态系统功能的影响

草原灌丛化是全球干旱半干旱地区面临的重要生态问题。灌丛化对草原生态系统结构与功能的影响较为复杂, 有待于在更广泛的区域开展研究。该研究在内蒙古锡林郭勒典型草原选择轻度、中度和重度灌丛化草地, 通过群落调查, 结合植物功能性状和土壤理化性质观测, 研究了小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)灌丛化对草原群落结构(物种多样性、功能多样性和功能群组成)和生态系统功能(初级生产力、植被和土壤养分库)的影响。结果表明: 1)不同程度灌丛化草地的物种丰富度、功能性状多样性和群落加权性状平均值差异显著, 其中, 中度灌丛化草地的物种多样性和功能多样性较高, 表明一定程度的灌丛化有利于生物多样性维持。2)重度灌丛化草地的地上净初级生产力(ANPP)显著高于轻度和中度灌丛化草地, 其原因主要是随着灌丛化程度加剧, 群落内一/二年生草本植物显著增加, 而多年生禾草和多年生杂类草显著减少。三个灌丛化草地的植被叶片和土壤碳、氮库差异均不显著。3)灌丛化对草原生态系统功能包括ANPP、植被和土壤养分库均没有直接的影响, 而是通过影响功能群组成、土壤理化性质和功能多样性, 间接地影响生态系统功能; 灌丛化导致功能群发生替代和土壤旱碱化是最重要的生物和非生物因素。     

神农架巴山冷杉(Abies fargesii)林群落特征及其优势种群结构

采用样方法对神农架自然保护区巴山冷杉林的群落组成、优势种群结构与动态进行了研究.结果表明,该群落具有明显的温带常绿针叶林特征,以中小型革质、单叶的常绿高位芽植物为主.群落成层现象明显,可划分为乔木层、灌木层和草本层,林下苔藓层发达.植物的科属组成较为分散,乔木层主要优势科有松科(Pinaceae)、桦木科(Betulaceae)、杜鹃花科(Ericaceae)、槭树科(Aceraceae)等.区系成分复杂分散,与温带植物区系关系密切.巴山冷杉是该群落的建群种,重要值达54.30%,幼苗储备丰富,占更新层的90.4%,但幼树缺失.巴山冷杉中小径级个体占多数(78.8%),为进展型种群.高度结构基本呈倒金字塔形,集中分布于8～10级3个高度级上(62.2%),10级个体最多,占29.3%.植株个体数随冠幅级的递增呈倒"J"形分布,冠幅小于20m2的植株占87.4%,其中5m2以下最多(30.8%).冠幅与胸径呈指数相关,回归方程为y＝2.7118e0.0308x,R2＝0.520,冠幅与胸径的关系比与树高更密切.     

Biomass estimation models and allocation patterns of 14 shrub species in Mountain Luya,Shanxi, China

Aims Shrub species have evolved specific strategies to regulate biomass allocation among various organs or between above- and belowground biomass and shrub biomass model is an important approach to estimate biomass allocation among different shrub species. This study was designed to establish the optimal estimation models for each organ (leaf, stem, and root), aboveground and total biomass of 14 common shrub species in Mountain Luya, Shanxi Province, China. Furthermore, we explored biomass allocation characteristics of these shrub species by using the index of leaf biomass fraction (leaf to total biomass), stem biomass fraction (stem to total biomass), root biomass fraction (root to total biomass), and root to shoot mass ratio (R/S) (belowground to aboveground biomass).
Methods We used plant height, basal diameter, canopy diameter and their combination as variables to establish the optimal biomass estimation models for each shrub species. In addition, we used the ratios of leaf, stem, root to total biomass, and belowground to aboveground biomass to explore the difference of biomass allocation patterns of 14 shrub species.
Important findings Most of biomass estimation models could be well expressed by the exponential and linear functions. Biomass for shorter shrub species with more stems could be better estimated by canopy area; biomass for taller shrub species with less stems could be better estimated by the sum of the square of total base diameter multiply stem height; and biomass for the rest shrub species could be better estimated by canopy volume. The averaged value for these shrub species was 0.61, 0.17, 0.48, and 0.35 for R/S, leaf biomass fraction, stem biomass fraction, and root biomass fraction, respectively. Except for leaf biomass fraction, R/S, stem biomass fraction, and root biomass fraction for shrubs with thorn was significantly greater than that for shrubs without thorn.