祁连山区演替先锋物种西藏沙棘的种群结构及动态对海拔梯度的响应

西藏沙棘(Hippophae tibetana)是青藏高原高寒区特有的低矮灌木和植被演替先锋物种, 具有优良的水土保持功效, 对高海拔环境表现出良好的生态适应性, 但有关其种群结构及动态对海拔梯度的响应规律少有研究, 阻碍了对西藏沙棘适应高寒生境生态策略的理解。青藏高原东北缘的祁连山区生态脆弱, 乡土物种西藏沙棘常在海拔2 700-3 300 m的高寒退化草地呈斑块状分布, 对该区水源涵养林的维持具有重要作用。该研究以祁连山区3个海拔(2 868、3 012、3 244 m)的西藏沙棘为研究对象, 通过编制静态生命表及绘制存活曲线, 分析西藏沙棘的种群结构特征和种群动态, 并利用种群动态量化分析和时间序列模型定量研究其未来发展趋势。结果显示: 1)西藏沙棘种群的基径、株高和冠幅均随海拔的升高而降低; 3个海拔种群均呈中龄期个体丰富, 老幼龄期个体较少的纺锤型年龄结构, 充足的中龄期个体可以维持种群短期稳定。2)种群存活曲线均为Deevey-II型, 存活能力为低海拔>中海拔>高海拔; 死亡率和消失率均较高, 呈高海拔>低海拔>中海拔的趋势, 3个海拔种群均缺乏幼苗, 未来均将走向衰退, 高海拔种群较其他海拔提前进入衰退期; 各海拔老龄期生命期望值为中海拔>低海拔>高海拔。3)各海拔种群动态指数(V′_pi)均趋于0, 表明各种群均趋于稳定, 中海拔种群受随机干扰风险概率的极大值(P_max)最小, 表明受随机干扰时中海拔种群最稳定, 中海拔更适宜西藏沙棘的生存。4)未来2、4、6个龄级时间后, 3个海拔的中、老龄期苗木增多, 小龄期苗木数目减少, 且各海拔种群均面临幼苗补充不及时的风险, 各种群将由稳定向衰退发展, 幼苗的缺少, 种内、种间竞争及环境胁迫是造成种群走向衰退的重要原因。

Changes in the Hippophae tibetana population structure and dynamics,a pioneer species of succession,to altitudinal gradients in the Qilian Mountains,China

Aims The variations in population structure and the quantitative dynamics of plants are a reflection of the local ecology and environment. Hippophae tibetana is a dwarf shrub, and a pioneer species of vegetation succession which is peculiar to the alpine region of the Qingzang Plateau. It has excellent water and soil conservation effects and good ecological adaptability to high-altitude environments. However, little research has been made into the changes in the population structure and dynamics at different altitudes. Such an understanding is important to understanding the ecological strategy of H. tibetana adaptation to alpine habitats. The Qilian Mountains in the northeastern margin of the Qingzang Plateau contain degraded alpine grassland and are ecologically fragile. It is thought that the irregularly distributed native species, H. tibetana, plays an important role in water conservation at 2 700-3 300 m in this region.