香鼬、艾虎和大(狂鸟)的食物资源分割--来自稳定性同位素的证据

通过对高寒草甸生态系统内香鼬、艾虎和大(狂鸟)3种食肉类稳定性碳和氮同位素比值(δ13C和δ15N)的测定,依据同位素的质量平衡原理和IsoSource软件计算得到:小型哺乳类在香鼬、艾虎和大(狂鸟)食谱中的分配比例分别为26.8%、27.0%和29.2%;雀形目成鸟的分配比例为22.3%、47.7%和69.1%;雀形目幼鸟为50.9%、25.6%和1.70%.3种食肉类的稳定性碳和氮同位素分布模式在二维空间上存在明显分割,由此说明,香鼬、艾虎和大(狂鸟)之间存在明显的食物资源分割现象,同时也反映了三者在高寒草甸生态系统内共存的基础.     

香鼬、艾虎和大鵟的食物资源分割——来自稳定性同位素的证据

通过对高寒草甸生态系统内香鼬、艾虎和大鵟3种食肉类稳定性碳和氮同位素比值(δ^13C和δ^15N)的测定,依据同位素的质量平衡原理和IsoSource软件计算得到：小型哺乳类在香鼬、艾虎和大鵟食谱中的分配比例分别为26．8％、27．0％和29．2％;雀形目成鸟的分配比例为22．3％、47．7％和69．1％;雀形目幼鸟为50．9％、25．6％和1．70％。3种食肉类的稳定性碳和氮同位素分布模式在二维空间上存在明显分割,由此说明．香鼬、艾虎和大鵟之间存在明显的食物资源分割现象,同时也反映了三者在高寒草甸生态系统内共存的基础。     

环境因子对西藏高原草地植物丛枝菌根真菌的影响

对西藏高原不同草地类型建群种植物的研究结果表明,寄主植物根围土壤AM真菌孢子密度与菌根侵染率之间无相关性;不同海拔条件下温度、降水量等的显著变化对草地植物AM真菌的发育和侵染具有重要影响,不同草地类型、土壤质地对AM真菌的影响亦较明显;在一定范围内,孢子密度随土壤pH、有机质含量的提高分别呈显著增加(r=0.5319^*,n=20)和下降趋势(r=-0.1973,n=20),菌根侵染率与土壤pH、有机质含量间则分别呈一定程度的负相关和正相关;高磷土壤环境对AM真菌的产孢和侵染均具有不同程度的抑制作用;最适AM真菌发育和产孢的土壤pH、有机质和有效磷含量范围分别为8.0～8.7、3.8～4.8g·kg和7.8～10.1mg·kg^-1;中度特别是重度退化草地对AM真菌的繁殖和侵染均具有不利影响,适度放牧对AM真菌关键种的保持具有重要意义;AM真菌对沙生苔草、矮生嵩草和扁穗莎草根系均具有良好的侵染效应.     

Plant functional types: a promising tool for management and restoration of degraded lands

Abstract. Throughout the Mediterranean region, vegetation dynamics are affected by human activities which are either ‘stresses’ or ‘disturbances’, depending on their frequency, intensity and spatial distribution. To minimize or reduce anthropogenic degradation caused by land use and other disturbances, it is necessary to understand and predict the various responses of plant communities to disturbances. In particular, detailed but integrative approaches are required to assimilate large databases on vegetation and to make them directly useful for managers and restorers. We describe two case studies undertaken to evaluate the effects of logging or overgrazing on plant species diversity in pine forests of southern France and steppe ecosystems of southern Tunisia. Both studies employed the same methodology to identify plant functional traits (morphological, life history and regeneration traits) associated with community response to disturbance. The results of these analyses allowed us to develop state and transition models that could be used to plan and predict ecosystem trajectories, assess ongoing degradation processes and monitor community and ecosystem responses to management and restoration practices. We discuss the relevance and the use of plant functional types (PFTs) as tools for ecosystem management and planning and for monitoring restoration in southern Europe, northern Africa and elsewhere. Using this approach it is possible to improve management strategies for the conservation, restoration and sustainable exploitation of biodiversity and of ecosystems.     

Steppe bison hunting in the Gravettian of Buda (lower Bistriţa Valley,eastern Romania)

The rich accumulation of bovid remains found at Buda (Bacău County, eastern Romania) is unique among the Upper Palaeolithic sites in the region. The morphological analysis of postcranial remains, which dominate the assemblage by far, shows they belong to Bison priscus, the steppe bison. The body parts representation is biased towards distal limbs, which also display typical butchery cut marks (resulted from disarticulation or skinning) and bone breakage, suggesting the presence of secondary butchery site where limbs were disarticulated and broken for marrow extraction. The assemblage is dominated by adults, mostly females, and includes few sub-adult individuals and no young juveniles. The large number of bison individuals indicates the found remains are the result of a mass killing event representing at least one hunting episode. Considering the age and sex structure of the population, we estimate that the event can be placed during autumn.     

Characteristics of soil water distribution and evaluation of recharge rate under different grazing history in the Xilin Gol Steppe北大核心CSCD

Aims In the Xilin Gol Steppe, human-induced grassland degradation and land desertification are becoming increasingly severe. Critical evaluation of its impact on soil water and recharge rate is important for sustainable management of soil health and water resources in the region. Methods In order to determine the effect of different grazing history on dynamics of deep soil moisture contents and precipitation infiltration in the Xilin Gol Steppe, three sites with different grazing history (ungrazed since 1979 or UG79, ungrazed since 1999 or UG99, and continuously grazed or CG) were selected with two sampling spots for each site. The precipitation infiltration was estimated using the chloride mass balance method. Important findings The results showed that: 1) Average soil water content of 0–5 m was 7.1%, 6.9%, and 6.3% for UG79, UG99, and CG, respectively, with no significant difference. In the soil layer of 0–2 m, the soil water content of UG79 was 26.6% and 33.7% higher than that of UG99 and CG, respectively. The soil water content of UG79 was significantly higher than that of UG79 and UG99 (p < 0.05) with no significant difference between UG99 and CG. The soil water storage capacity of UG79 was 87.19 mm higher than UG99 and 82.52 mm higher than CG. In the deep layer of 2–5 m, no significant difference in the soil water content and the water storage among different grazing history. 2) The factors influencing soil water differed among different grazing treatments. The soil water content was mainly affected by the vegetation conditions and soil properties for the 0–2 m soil layer, but by the composition of soil particles for the 2–5 m soil layer. The effect of soil organic matter (SOM) content on soil water increased with time without grazing. Soil water content of the entire soil profile of UG79 was significantly correlated with soil texture and SOM content (p < 0.01). Soil water content of 0–2 m was significantly correlated with SOM content (p < 0.01), soil water content of 2–5 m was significantly correlated with the soil texture (p <0.01), but soil moisture content of UG99 and CG had no significant correlation with SOM content. 3) Annual recharge rate was 5.64, 3.54, and 2.45 mm·a –1 for UG79, UG99 and CG, respectively. The recharge rate increased by 44.5% and 130.2% for the site without grazing for 15 and 35 years, respectively. The recharge rate in the study area ranged from 1.95 to 7.61 mm·a –1 , accounting for only 0.55%–2.13% of the precipitation. In summary, ungrazing treatment can increase soil water retention, total water storage capacity, and recharge. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All Rights Reserved.     

Human influence on distribution and extinctions of the late Pleistocene Eurasian megafauna

Late Pleistocene extinctions are of interest to paleontological and anthropological research. In North America and Australia, human occupation occurred during a short period of time and overexploitation may have led to the extinction of mammalian megafauna. In northern Eurasia megafaunal extinctions are believed to have occurred over a relatively longer period of time, perhaps as a result of changing environmental conditions, but the picture is much less clear. To consider megafaunal extinction in Eurasia, we compare differences in the geographical distribution and commonness of extinct and extant species between paleontological and archaeological localities from the late middle Pleistocene to Holocene. Purely paleontological localities, as well as most extinct species, were distributed north of archaeological sites and of the extant species, suggesting that apart from possible differences in adaptations between humans and other species, humans could also have a detrimental effect on large mammal distribution. However, evidence for human overexploitation applies only to the extinct steppe bison Bison priscus. Other human-preferred species survive into the Holocene, including Rangifer tarandus, Equus ferus, Capreolus capreolus, Cervus elaphus, Equus hemionus, Saiga tatarica, and Sus scrofa. Mammuthus primigenius and Megaloceros giganteus were rare in archaeological sites. Carnivores appear little influenced by human presence, although they become rarer in Holocene archaeological sites. Overall, the data are consistent with the conclusion that humans acted as efficient hunters selecting for the most abundant species. Our study supports the idea that the late Pleistocene extinctions were environmentally driven by climatic changes that triggered habitat fragmentation, species range reduction, and population decrease, after which human interference either by direct hunting or via indirect activities probably became critical.     

Germination ecology of Central Asian Stipa spp: differences among species, seed provenances, and the importance of field studies

Stipa-species are wide-spread in Central Asia, but sexual reproduction in the dry steppes is rare. To facilitate conservation and restoration of these important rangelands, we studied germination characteristics of three common Mongolian Stipa-species under field- and lab conditions. Seeds of Stipa krylovii, Stipa gobica and Stipa glareosa were sown at the study site in Southern Mongolia over two consecutive years during which period tests were carried out to ascertain whether competition or herbivory are the main constraints of seedling establishment. In addition, we tested germination and seed viability in the laboratory under two different temperature regimes (20/10°C and 8/4°C), as well as the effect of cold-stratification. The lab experiments also included S. krylovii seeds originating from three climatically different provenances. None of the three Stipa-species seedlings emerged during the first 2 years of the field study. However, after an unusually intense rain event in the third year, 3% of S. krylovii, 0.6% of S. glareosa and 0.1% of S. gobica seeds germinated in the study plots. The factors ‘sowing-year’ and ‘vegetation’ significantly affected seedling emergence, whereas grazing had no effect at all. Under laboratory conditions a high percentage of viable seeds of S. gobica and S. glareosa germinated at both incubation temperatures, and cold-stratification had no effect on germination or viability. Germination of S. krylovii seeds required warmer temperatures and cold-stratification had a positive effect. Such evidence for dormancy was more pronounced in seeds from the moister, northern provenances. Germination of Stipa-species in the field is rare and only possible under exceptionally moist conditions. Conservation should thus concentrate on steppe conservation rather than on restoration. Where artificial reseeding is necessary, differences among species and also among different seed provenances should be taken into account.     

内蒙古锡林郭勒草原植被结构的遥感图象分析

 本文利用遥感图象分析技术对内蒙古锡林郭勒草原植被各层次空间结构(大、中、小、微)及其与相应环境因素之间的关系进行了分析,并对各类草原的地上生物量及理论载畜量给予估算。分析结果表明：锡林郭勒草原植被的地域分异规律明显;植被的大结构主要受大气候因素及大的地貌单元控制：地形、水文网络是影响植被中结构的主要因素;而植被微、小结构的形成主要受局部地形、地表水、基质及人为干扰因素的制约。