Hydrology of Lake Atnsjøen and River Atna

The hydrological investigations in the Atna basin started in 1917 with discharge measurements at the outlet of Lake Atnsjøen. Ice data are available from the lake since 1950 and water temperature data from 1980. With the start of the FORSKREF program in 1986 the number of hydrological stations increased substantially and included also snow measurements. During the FORSKREF period 1986–98 the annual mean discharge was 8% lower than during the normal period 1931–60. The annual flood is highest during the snow melt in spring, an exception was 1987 when a rain flood in October was the annual high. The spring flood in early June 1995 was the largest ever recorded and had a 100–200 year return period. The water temperature is low above tree-line at 1000 m a. s. l., rarely exceeding 7–8?°C. The temperature increases gradually with decreasing altitude and is periodically above 15?°C at 400 m a. s. l. The Atna Lake is an important heat source for the river downstream. In this lake, wind mixing normally prevents the development of a strong summer thermocline. The lake usually freezes over in late November and has a stable ice cover of 50–90 cm thickness in early spring. The ice normally breaks up in late May; thus the mean ice-covered period is 6 months. The ice cover on the river is less stable and rather large ice-runs are common on the lower part of River Atna. The snow measurements are carried out in April in a small subbasin between 800 and 1200 m a. s. l. The snow cover is unevenly distributed due to strong wind transport, but the pattern is more or less the same from one season to another. The mean snow accumulation in this basin is equivalent to 205 mm of precipitation.     

青藏高原1979-2007年间的积雪变化

利用雪深被动微波遥感数据产品,对青藏高原1979—2007年积雪深度、积雪日数的分布变化及其趋势进行了分析。结果表明:青藏高原积雪日数、积雪深度和海拔三者之间在空间上具有显著正相关;青藏高原积雪在1988年发生突变,该年前后积雪分布有显著不同,这与20世纪80年代中后期青藏高原由暖干时期进入暖湿时期有关;将青藏高原按夏季水汽来源不同将其分为南北两部分,发现29年来北部积雪日数变化与全国积雪变化相反呈极显著增加趋势(R2=0.39,P0.01),以1.40 d/a的趋势增加,主要原因是西北部地区冬季积雪日数增加;南部积雪深度与全国积雪变化一致呈极显著减少趋势(R2=0.24,P0.01),以-0.04 cm/a的趋势减少,主要原因是东南部春、夏、秋三季积雪深度减少。     

N uptake and growth responses to sub-lethal freezing in the grass Poa pratensis L.

Background and aims

Climate warming has the potential to increase both the exposure and vulnerability of grass roots to frost in temperate regions by reducing snow cover and altering the timing of cold acclimation. Despite a strong research focus on the direct effects of freezing on grass mortality, the direct sub-lethal effects of freezing on grass performance have not been well-characterized. We examined sub-lethal responses of the grass Poa pratensis to variation in the timing, severity, rate and length of freezing.

Methods

We assessed short term root functional responses (¹⁵N uptake) and longer term plant growth responses to freezing administered both under controlled conditions in a refrigerated incubator, and in the field by manipulating snow and litter cover.

Results

In fall and spring, ¹⁵N uptake declined in response to 1?day of freezing down to ?10?°C or to 3?days of freezing at ?5?°C, whereas in winter, ¹⁵N uptake was insensitive to freezing. Long term growth responses were similar, with reduced growth only occurring for grasses frozen for 3?days at ?5?°C in spring, but not for grasses frozen in fall or winter. Snow and litter removal intensified soil freezing over winter, but did not significantly affect plant growth.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that while P. pratensis is relatively tolerant to frost damage over winter, it may be vulnerable to sub-lethal frost effects in fall, and particularly in spring. These sub-lethal effects occur at temperatures approximately 15–20?°C warmer than the published LT₅₀ values for this species.     

黑龙江流域积雪覆盖时空变化遥感监测

利用MODIS双星数据对黑龙江流域2003—2012年的积雪覆盖面积进行提取和验证,然后基于合成的数据分析研究区积雪覆盖面积的季节和年际变化.结果表明: 双星合成降低了云的影响,总体精度>91%,可以满足分析和研究需求.研究期间,黑龙江流域积雪覆盖面积存在显著的季节变化,7、8月的积雪最少,几乎为零,1月积雪覆盖面积最大,占流域的80%以上.2003—2004、2009—2010年冬季积雪覆盖面积较高(>180×10⁴ km²),2011年冬季最大积雪覆盖面积较低(150×10⁴ km²).积雪覆盖的年际变化与年平均气温和平均降水量的波动存在一定的对应关系:积雪覆盖面积较低年份对应的年降水量较少、平均气温较高,反之亦然.2003—2012年,研究区5、6月的积雪覆盖面积呈减少趋势,降水量增加和气温的升高与积雪覆盖面积减少紧密相连.     

Annual variability in the life-history characteristics of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in a subalpine Norwegian lake

The annual variability in growth and life history traits of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) in Lake Atnsjøen, a Norwegian subalpine lake, was studied over a period of 13 years (1985–1997). The extent to which life-history characteristics recorded on one occasion can be regarded as representative for the population was explored. We found inter-cohort variation in growth for both species; estimates of asymptotic length (L _∞) in ten cohorts ranged between 225–305 mm (CV = 10.5%) for brown trout and 273–301 mm (CV = 4.1%) for Arctic charr. However, this variation was much lower than inter-population variation for brown trout based on single samples from 169 populations (CV = 24.6%). In Lake Atnsjøen, annual growth increment correlated highly with the number of days warmer than 7?°C (R ²=0.60–0.89) for brown trout, and days warmer than 10?°C (R ²=0.40–0.58) for Arctic charr. Females of Arctic charr were younger at sexual maturity than males, while no such difference was found in brown trout. Generally speaking, early maturing individuals of both species grew faster, particularly from age-2 and onwards, than immature individuals. Early maturing individuals, however, were smaller at maturity than those maturing one year older. Age and size at maturity were significantly correlated with asymptotic lengths only in Arctic charr females.     

Effects of soil frost on soil respiration and its radiocarbon signature in a Norway spruce forest soil

Apart from a general increase of mean annual air temperature, climate models predict a regional increase of the frequency and intensity of soil frost with possibly strong effects on C cycling of soils. In this study, we induced mild soil frost (up to −5 °C in a depth of 5 cm below surface) in a Norway spruce forest soil by removing the natural snow cover in the winter of 2005/2006. Soil frost lasted from January to April 2006 and was detected down to 15 cm depth. Soil frost effectively reduced soil respiration in the snow removal plots in comparison to undisturbed control plots. On an annual basis 6.2 t C ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ were emitted in the control plots compared with 5.1 t C ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ in the snow removal plots. Only 14% of this difference was attributed to reduced soil respiration during the soil frost period itself, whereas 63% of this difference originated from differences during the summer of 2006. Radiocarbon (Δ¹⁴C) signature of CO₂ revealed a considerable reduction of heterotrophic respiration on the snow removal plots, only partly compensated for by a slight increase of rhizosphere respiration. Similar CO₂ concentrations in the uppermost mineral horizons of both treatments indicate that differences between the treatments originated from the organic horizons. Extremely low water contents between June and October of 2006 may have inhibited the recovery of the heterotrophic organisms from the frost period, thereby enhancing the differences between the control and snow removal plots. We conclude that soil frost triggered a change in the composition of the microbial community, leading to an increased sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration to summer drought. A CO₂ pulse during thawing, such as described for arable soils several times throughout the literature, with the potential to partly compensate for reduced soil respiration during soil frost, appears to be lacking for this soil. Our results from this experiment indicate that soil frost reduces C emission from forest soils, whereas mild winters may enhance C losses from forest soils.     

Spatial and temporal variability in intertidal assemblages dominated by the mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii (d’Orbigny, 1846)

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of man’s interventions on the present day distribution of fish in a mountain area in southern Norway, the Atna river system. River Atna originates in the Rondane mountains at altitudes of nearly 1600 m a.s.l., and joins River Glomma at 300 m a.s.l. There are 98 lakes in the watercourse (701–1565 m a.s.l.). Lake Atnsjøen is the largest lake (5.0 km²). Data on the occurrence, origin and status of fish in lakes were obtained by means of interviews, questionnaires and written sources. Occurrence in rivers and streams was surveyed by electrofishing. While the lower reaches of River Glomma contain most of the freshwater fish species found in Norway, the Atna watercourse has a poor fish fauna. Physical conditions, e.g. steep river gradients and several impassable waterfalls have prevented fish from reaching most lakes and river stretches after the deglaciation some 6000 years ago. Five species of fish are regarded as native to the area; brown trout (Salmo trutta), Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), grayling (Thymallus thymallus), Siberian sculpin (Cottus poecilopus) and European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). Although only native species are found in the area, the present distribution of these species within the watercourse is to a very large extent a result of human interventions during the past 100–130 years. Brown trout were originally found in the main branch of the river, including Lake Atnsjøen and a few small lakes (n<5) further upstream, but it is now found in 65 lakes. Arctic charr were native only to Lake Atnsjøen, but now inhabit 20 lakes. Grayling remains restricted to River Atna below the waterfall at the outlet of Lake Atnsjøen. The natural distribution of Siberian sculpin is restricted to the main river below Liafossen waterfall (14 km above Lake Atnsjøen). During the 1890s, this species was accidentally introduced to Lake Setningsjøen, and subsequently spread to another three lakes further upstream. The European minnow was native only to the River Atna below Lake Atnsjøen, but was accidentally introduced to seven lakes in the course of this century. There are 24 fishless lakes in the watershed, mainly mountain lakes between 1033 and 1587 m a.s.l.     

Evergreen alpine shrubs have high freezing resistance in spring,irrespective of snowmelt timing and exposure to frost: an investigation from the Snowy Mountains,Australia

Over winter, alpine plants are protected from low-temperature extremes by a blanket of snow. Climate change predictions indicate an overall reduction in snowpack and an earlier thaw; a situation which could expose the tips of shrubs which extend above the snowpack to freezing events in early spring, and cause foliar frost damage during the onset of physiological activity. We assessed the photosynthetic responses of freezing-damaged shrub leaves from an assay of freezing temperatures in the Snowy Mountains in south-eastern Australia, using chlorophyll fluorometery ex situ. We sampled leaves that were exposed early during the spring thaw and leaves that were buried in snow for up to two extra weeks, from four evergreen shrub species at monthly intervals following the period of snowmelt. Freezing resistance (estimated from LT₅₀) was poorest at the earliest spring sampling time, in both exposed above-snow and protected below-snow foliage in all species. Protected foliage in early spring had lower freezing resistance than exposed foliage, but not significantly so. By the third sampling time, freezing resistance was significantly better in the lower protected foliage (LT₅₀ of ? 14) compared with the upper exposed foliage (LT₅₀ of ? 10) in one species. Over the course of spring, freezing resistance improved significantly in all species, with LT₅₀ values of between ? 10 and ? 15 °C by the third sampling time, which is lower than the minimum air temperatures recorded at that time (> ? 5 °C). The results indicate that the dominant evergreen shrub species in this area may only be susceptible to freezing events very early in spring, before a period of frost-hardening occurs after snowmelt. Later in spring, these alpine shrubs appear frost hardy, thus further perpetuating the positive feedbacks surrounding shrub expansion in alpine areas.     

Morphophysiological monitoring of winter wheat in spring in the context of global climate warming

Data on morphophysiological monitoring of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Mironovskaya 808 grown in Hoagland and Arnon solution in a greenhouse and transferred to natural conditions in March–April 2004 with the mean daily temperature of 0.6 ± 0.7°C within the exposure period of 42 days are presented. Water content, dry weight of plants and their organs, frost hardiness of plants, degree of tissue damage by frost, CO₂ metabolism (photosynthesis and respiration), concentrations of sugars in tissues and proportions between different sugar forms, and activities of soluble and insoluble acid and alkaline phosphatases were monitored. Monitoring was carried out for three experimental variants simulating different microclimatic conditions in spring: after snow melting (experiment I), under ice crust (experiment II), and under snow cover (experiment III). Plants in experiments III and II demonstrated a higher water content in tissues, lower frost hardiness, higher rates of biomass loss, lower concentration of sugars and lower di-to monosaccharide ratio in tissues, and higher total invertase activity, particularly, cell wall-associated acid invertase activity. The dark respiration rates at 0°C did not significantly differ between experimental variants. The photosynthetic capacity at this measurement temperature was maintained in all experimental variants being most pronounced in experiment II with the most intense photoinhibition under natural conditions. Comparison of experiments III and II with experiment I is used to discuss the negative effect of changes in certain microclimatic indices associated with global warming and leading to plant exhaustion and death from frost in spring.     

Possible impacts of climate change on hydrologic cycle in Slovakia and results of observations in 1951–2007

The hydrologic cycle in Slovakia is determined mainly by three basic components: precipitation (P), evapotranspiration (E) and runoff (R). The mean annual P total was 747 mm, E sum 476 mm and the mean R was 271 mm in Slovakia in 1951–1980 (E ≈ 0.65P and R ≈ 0.35P). T increase in 1.6°C and annual P decrease in 24 mm (3.1%) were detected in the 1881–2007 period. Regimes of potential and actual evapotranspiration, soil moisture and R have been changed mainly in the southern Slovakia. A physical model for the estimation of the energy balance equation components (total radiation balance and its components, potential and actual evapotranspiration, sensible heat flux) has been developed. Input data are the air temperature and humidity, cloudiness, the number of days with snow cover and precipitation, all measured in the network of 31 meteorological stations in Slovakia since 1951. The 20-year period 1988–2007 was by 0.9°C warmer than the normal period mean. The observed increase is at the upper limit of all climate change scenarios projected for Slovakia in 1991–2001. Annual P totals have not changed significantly, but substantial changes have been found in the P regime. The scenarios show significant changes in the hydrological cycle not only at river basins balance but also in case of soil water balance, mainly in the southern Slovakia.     

Analysis of Precipitation Characteristics during 1957-2012 in the Semi-Arid Loess Plateau,China

Precipitation is the only water supply and most important factor affecting vegetation growth on the slopes of semi-arid Loess Plateau of China. Based on precipitation data from 7 synoptic stations in the study area over the period 1957–2012, the trends of precipitation and standardized precipitation index (SPI) were analyzed by using linear regression, Mann−Kendall, and Spearman’s Rho tests at the 5% significance level. The results show that (1) the precipitation fluctuation of monthly precipitation was intense (coefficients of variation> 100%), and the drier years were recorded as 1965 and 1995 at all stations. (2) The significant change trend of different stations varied on different time scales: the Changwu station had a significant decreasing trend in April (−0.488 mm/year) and November (−0.249 mm/year), while Luochuan station was in April (−0.457 mm/year); Changwu station displayed a significant increasing trends in winter (0.220 mm/year) and a significant decreasing trends in spring (−0.770 mm/year). The significant decreasing trends in annual precipitation were detected at the Suide (−2.034 mm/year) and Yan’an (–2.129 mm/year) stations. (3) The SPI−12 series analysis suggests that the drought degree of Yulin and Changwu was the lowest and that of Hengshan was the highest among the 7 synoptic stations.     

Does the removal of snowpack and the consequent changes in soil frost affect the physiology of Norway spruce needles?

Climate change may cause a decrease in snow cover in northern latitudes. This, on the other hand, may result in more severe soil frost even in areas where it is not common at present, and may lead to increased stress on the tree canopy. We studied the effects of snow removal and consequent changes in soil frost and water content on the physiology of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) needles and implications on root biomass. The study was conducted at a 47-year-old Norway spruce stand in eastern Finland during the two winters of 2005/06 and 2006/07. The treatments in three replicates were: (i) natural snow accumulation and melting (CTRL), (ii) artificial snow removal during the winter (OPEN), and (iii) the same as OPEN, but the ground was insulated in early spring to delay soil thawing (FROST). In spite of the deeper soil frost in the OPEN than in the CTRL treatment, soil warming in spring occurred at the same time, whereas soil warming in the FROST was delayed by 2 and 1.5 months in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The soil water content was affected by snow manipulations, being at a lower level in the OPEN and FROST than CTRL in spring and early summer. The physiological measurements of the needles (e.g. starch, carbon and nitrogen content and apoplastic electrical resistance) showed differences between soil frost treatments. The differences were mostly seen between the CTRL and FROST, but also in the case of the starch content in early spring 2007 between the CTRL and OPEN. The needle responses in the FROST were more evident after the colder winter of 2006. The physiological changes seemed to be related to the soil temperature and water content in the early growing season rather than to the wintertime soil temperature. No difference was found in the fine root (diameter < 2 mm) biomass between the treatments assessed in 2007. In the future, conditions similar to the OPEN treatment may be more common than at present in areas experiencing a thick snow cover. The present experiment took place over the course of two years. It is possible that whenever thin snow cover occurs yearly, the reduced starch content during the early spring may be reflected in the tree growth itself as a result of reduced energy reserves.     

基于SPEI指数的长江中下游流域干旱时空特征分析

基于长江中下游流域1961—2015年129个气象站点的逐日气温和降水数据,利用标准化降水蒸散指数(SPEI),对长江中下游流域近55年年尺度及各季节干旱变化趋势、站次比、强度和频率进行了分析,并探讨了干旱和区域气温、降水变化及ENSO的关系。结果表明:(1)在区域尺度,近55年长江中下游流域年尺度、春季和秋季呈干旱化趋势,春季干旱化趋势显著;夏季和冬季呈湿润化趋势。空间变化上,对于年尺度,汉江流域、中游干流区及洞庭湖流域以干旱化趋势为主,鄱阳湖流域、下游干流区和太湖流域以湿润化趋势为主;春季和秋季分别有96.90%和92.25%的站点呈干旱化趋势;夏季和冬季分别有82.95%和72.87%的站点呈湿润化趋势。(2)年尺度、春季和秋季干旱站次比及强度均呈增加趋势,春旱站次比与强度增加趋势显著;夏季和冬季干旱站次比和强度均呈下降趋势。(3)年尺度和春季干旱频率在21世纪初均达到最高,年尺度、春季和夏季干旱频率从20世纪90年代到21世纪初均呈增加趋势。(4)春、秋季干旱化趋势与降水量的减少及气温的上升相关,夏、冬季降水量的增加使得夏、冬季呈湿润化趋势。冬季SOI和次年春季干旱相关性极显著,冬季发生拉尼娜事件时,次年春季更易发生干旱。     

Climate change decreases the cooling effect from postfire albedo in boreal North America

Fire is a primary disturbance in boreal forests and generates both positive and negative climate forcings. The influence of fire on surface albedo is a predominantly negative forcing in boreal forests, and one of the strongest overall, due to increased snow exposure in the winter and spring months. Albedo forcings are spatially and temporally heterogeneous and depend on a variety of factors related to soils, topography, climate, land cover/vegetation type, successional dynamics, time since fire, season, and fire severity. However, how these variables interact to influence albedo is not well understood, and quantifying these relationships and predicting postfire albedo becomes increasingly important as the climate changes and management frameworks evolve to consider climate impacts. Here we developed a MODIS‐derived ‘blue sky’ albedo product and a novel machine learning modeling framework to predict fire‐driven changes in albedo under historical and future climate scenarios across boreal North America. Converted to radiative forcing (RF), we estimated that fires generate an annual mean cooling of ?1.77 ± 1.35 W/m² from albedo under historical climate conditions (1971–2000) integrated over 70 years postfire. Increasing postfire albedo along a south–north climatic gradient was offset by a nearly opposite gradient in solar insolation, such that large‐scale spatial patterns in RF were minimal. Our models suggest that climate change will lead to decreases in mean annual postfire albedo, and hence a decreasing strength of the negative RF, a trend dominated by decreased snow cover in spring months. Considering the range of future climate scenarios and model uncertainties, we estimate that for fires burning in the current era (2016) the cooling effect from long‐term postfire albedo will be reduced by 15%–28% due to climate change.     

N2O emission in a Norway spruce forest due to soil frost: concentration and isotope profiles shed a new light on an old story

In mountain regions of Central Europe an increase of soil frost periods is predicted for this century due to reduced snow fall. To investigate the effects of freezing and thawing on soil N₂O fluxes in a mature Norway spruce forest in the mountainous Fichtelgebirge, Germany, the natural snow cover on three experimental plots was removed to induce soil frost. Three plots with natural snow cover served as controls. Soil N₂O fluxes were recorded in biweekly to monthly intervals during the frost and subsequent thawing period of the below-average cold winter in 2005/2006 and in the above-average warm winter in 2006/2007. In addition, N₂O concentrations and isotope signatures in soil air were measured along soil profiles in six different depths (from 6 to 70 cm). The soil of the snow removal plots was frozen down to 15 cm depth from January to April 2006 while the soil of control plots remained unfrozen under snow cover. Both soil freezing and thawing resulted in almost tenfold enhanced N₂O fluxes on snow removal plots contributing 84% to annual N₂O emissions. In the subsequent winter without soil frost no effects were observed. Vertical gradients of N₂O concentrations together with isotope abundance suggest that the subsoil of all plots was a probably weak, but continuous N₂O source throughout the year. Isotope signatures and N₂O concentration gradients in the soil profile indicate that microbial N₂O production and reduction of N₂O to N₂ did not or just marginally occur in frozen soil layers of the snow removal plots. Consequently, elevated N₂O fluxes in the late winter were attributed to the release of accumulated N₂O originating from the subsoil. At unfrozen soil, however, N₂O emissions were reduced due to a shift of the N₂O production-consumption ratio towards more consumption in the topsoil of both the control and snow removal plots. These findings contradict the general assumption that N₂O production in the organic layer is responsible for bursts of N₂O due to soil frost.     

Do centennial tree-ring and stable isotope trends of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. indicate increasing water shortage in the Siberian north?

Tree-ring width of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr., ratios of stable isotopes of C (δ¹³C) and O (δ¹⁸O) of whole wood and cellulose chronologies were obtained for the northern part of central Siberia (Tura, Russia) for the period 1864–2006. A strong decrease in the isotope ratios of O and C (after atmospheric δ¹³C corrections) and tree-ring width was observed for the period 1967–2005, while weather station data show a decrease in July precipitation, along with increasing July air temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Temperature at the end of May and the whole month of June mainly determines tree radial growth and marks the beginning of the vegetation period in this region. A positive correlation between tree-ring width and July precipitation was found for the calibration period 1929–2005. Positive significant correlations between C isotope chronologies and temperatures of June and July were found for whole wood and cellulose and negative relationships with July precipitation. These relationships are strengthened when the likely physiological response of trees to increased CO₂ is taken into account (by applying a recently developed δ¹³C correction). For the O isotope ratios, positive relationships with annual temperature, VPD of July and a negative correlation with annual precipitation were observed. The δ¹⁸O in tree rings may reflect annual rather than summer temperatures, due to the late melting of the winter snow and its contribution to the tree water supply in summer. We observed a clear change in the isotope and climate trends after the 1960s, resulting in a drastic change in the relationship between C and O isotope ratios from a negative to a positive correlation. According to isotope fractionation models, this indicates reduced stomatal conductance at a relatively constant photosynthetic rate, as a response of trees to water deficit for the last half century in this permafrost region.     

Age and growth of Siberian sculpin (Cottus poecilopus) and young brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a subalpine Norwegian river

Age, growth and density of Siberian sculpin (Cottus poecilopus) and young brown trout (Salmo trutta) within two sections of River Atna; above Lake Atnsjøen [Section 1 at altitudes between 739 and 715 m] and below Lake Atnsjøen [Section 2 at altitudes between 430 and 370 m] was studied during a 6-year period (1986–91). The water temperature was considerably lower in Section 1 than in Section 2, as the number of days with a water temperature above 10?°C (T _{D ≥ 10?° C} ) from spring to August 1 ranged between 2–26 and 26–52 days, respectively. Juvenile brown trout (age 0+) attained a significantly smaller body size in Section 1 than in Section 2; mean length ±SD was 35 ± 8 mm (ranged 27–46) and 43 ± 7 mm (range 38–46), respectively. In Section 2, there was a highly positive correlation between the body length of 0+ brown trout and mean water temperature in June (p<0.005), and also to some extent in Section 1 (p=0.11). Individuals of age 1+ did not exhibit any such difference, while fish in age group 2+ were larger in Section 1 than in Section 2. By using the number of days with a water temperature between the range 5–10?°C (T _{D ≥ 5 ? 10?° C} ) as test variables, we found a highly positive correlation between the August 1 body length of 0+ brown trout and T _{D ≥ 9}?°C from spring to August 1 in Section 2 (p<0.05), as opposed to T _{D ≥ 7}?°C for trout in Section 1 (p=0.11). Young Siberian sculpin (age 0+ and 1+) also exhibited slower growth in Section 1 than in Section 2, but this was not the case among older specimens. In the year with the lowest temperature measured (1987), no 0+ Siberian sculpin were caught in any of the two sections, indicating that low temperature affects their survival. Both species exhibited large spatial and temporal variation in density. Thus, data on abundance and growth sampled on one occasion at one site can not be regarded as representative for these two fish populations.     

Responses of flowering phenology of snowbed plants to an experimentally imposed extreme advanced snowmelt

In snowbed habitats, characterized by a long-lasting snow cover, the timing of snowmelt can be included among the major factors controlling plant phenology. Nevertheless, only a few ecological studies have tested the responses of flowering phenology of species growing in very late snow-free habitats to an advanced snowmelt (AS) date. The aim of this study was to determine the impacts of an extremely earlier melt-out of snow on flowering phenology of vascular plant species inhabiting an alpine snowbed. The study was conducted in the high Gavia Valley (Italy, 2,700 m a.s.l.). On 30th May 2012, we removed manually the snow cover and set up an experiment with 5 AS and 5 control plots. Phenological observations of the most abundant vascular species were conducted every 4–6 days. Moreover, we calculated cumulative soil temperature and recorded the mortality of reproductive structures of three species. For several species flowering occurred earlier, and the prefloration period was extended in the AS treatment in comparison with the control. For the majority of species, cumulative soil temperatures in the AS treatment and the control were comparable, confirming that temperature exerts the main control on the flowering of the species inhabiting snowbeds. Earlier flowering species resulted more affected by an AS date in comparison with later flowering species. The mortality of reproductive structures did not increase in the AS treatments in comparison with the control suggesting that few and weak frost events in late spring do not affect the survival of reproductive structures of the species studied.     

Ecological impacts of a widespread frost event following early spring leaf‐out

In the spring of 2010, temperatures averaged ~3 °C above the long‐term mean (March–May) across the northeastern United States. However, in mid‐to‐late spring, much of this region experienced a severe frost event. The spring of 2010 therefore provides a case study on how future spring temperature extremes may affect northeastern forest ecosystems. We assessed the response of three northern hardwood tree species (sugar maple, American beech, yellow birch) to these anomalous temperature patterns using several different data sources and addressed four main questions: (1) Along an elevational gradient, how was each species affected by the late spring frost? (2) How did differences in phenological growth strategy influence their response? (3) How did the late spring frost affect ecosystem productivity within the study domain? (4) What are the potential long‐term impacts of spring frost events on forest community ecology? Our results show that all species exhibited early leaf development triggered by the warm spring. However, yellow birch and American beech have more conservative growth strategies and were largely unaffected by the late spring frost. In contrast, sugar maples responded strongly to warmer temperatures and experienced widespread frost damage that resulted in leaf loss and delayed canopy development. Late spring frost events may therefore provide a competitive advantage for yellow birch and American beech at the expense of sugar maple. Results from satellite remote sensing confirm that frost damage was widespread throughout the region at higher elevations (>500 m). The frost event is estimated to have reduced gross ecosystem productivity by 70–153 g C m^?2, or 7–14% of the annual gross productivity (1061 ± 82 g C m^?2) across 8753 km² of high‐elevation forest. We conclude that frost events following leaf out, which are expected to become more common with climate change, may influence both forest composition and ecosystem productivity.     

气候变化背景下中国南方地区季节性干旱特征与适应Ⅰ.降水资源演变特征

基于中国南方地区15个省（市、自治区）262个气象台站1959-2008年的降水量资料,分析了季尺度降水量的趋势系数、降水变率、年际及年代际标准化降水距平的变化特征.结果表明：研究期间,中国南方地区降水变化趋势的季节差异较大,大部分地区春季和秋季降水量呈减少趋势,夏季和冬季降水量呈增多趋势,但西南部分地区略有不同;研究区域春旱发生可能性减小,夏旱、秋旱和冬旱发生的可能性增加;春旱更易发生在华南地区和西南地区,夏旱和秋旱发生可能性较高的地区为长江中下游地区和华南地区,冬旱发生可能性较高地区由华南地区扩大为华南和长江中下游地区.中国南方地区春季和秋季降水自20世纪80年代以来明显偏少,夏季和冬季降水在20世纪90年代以前偏少、20世纪90年代偏多、21世纪以来又偏少.中国南方各区域季节尺度降水量标准距平的年代变化基本一致,研究时段内秋季降水量呈减少趋势,夏季和冬季降水量呈增加趋势.