温度和水分变化对冻土区泥炭地土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响

以大兴安岭多年冻土区泥炭地为研究对象,通过室内模拟增温实验,研究温度升高对不同深度（0-150 cm）土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响。同时针对0-20 cm和20-40 cm土壤设置两个水分处理,分别为土壤原始含水量和淹水状态,研究水分变化对表层土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响。结果表明温度升高显著提高了活动层（0-60 cm）、过渡层（60-80 cm）、永冻层（80-100 cm）中nifH、nirK基因丰度,温度升高显著提高了活动层（0-40 cm）和过渡层（60-80 cm）中nirS基因丰度。温度升高显著提高了过渡层（60-80 cm）NH₄⁺-N和较深永冻层（140-150 cm）NO₃^--N的含量,但降低了过渡层（60-80 cm）NO₃^--N和较深永冻层（120-150 cm）NH₄⁺-N的含量,相关性分析表明,NH₄⁺-N含量与nifH和nirS基因丰度呈显著正相关,NO₃^--N含量与nirK基因丰度呈显著正相关,说明温度升高能够通过改变微生物丰度促进过渡层固氮作用和反硝化作用。在增温条件下,淹水处理使表层土壤nirS和nirK基因丰度及NH₄⁺-N含量降低,但提高了NO₃^--N含量,说明淹水造成了过度还原的条件使反硝化底物浓度降低,降低反硝化微生物活性进而抑制了土壤反硝化作用。该结果对于明确未来气候变化影响下冻土区泥炭地土壤氮循环过程具有重要意义。     

增温和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物功能基因丰度的影响

为探讨温度升高和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物的影响,于2017年7月采集多年冻土区泥炭地表层(0—10 cm和10—20 cm)土壤样品,在10、15℃两个温度下开展为期42d的增温模拟试验,同时设置葡萄糖添加处理,利用荧光定量PCR技术分析泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物丰度变化,同时分析增温和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤活性碳组分和无机氮含量的影响。结果表明:温度升高可导致北方泥炭地表层土壤微生物丰度以及群落结构变化,0—10 cm土壤微生物比10—20 cm土壤微生物更加敏感。增温条件下微生物首先快速分解活性有机碳,同时温度升高加快土壤氮周转速率,增加有效氮含量。外源碳输入整体提高了深层土壤微生物丰度,使得10—20 cm土壤细菌、产甲烷菌、甲烷氧化菌、氨氧化细菌以及反硝化细菌丰度显著增加,说明外源碳输入可能会促进10—20 cm土壤甲烷氧化过程、氨氧化过程和反硝化过程。温度和葡萄糖的交互作用对泥炭地表层土壤碳氮循环关键微生物丰度均有显著影响。在增温和外源碳输入条件下,北方泥炭地表层土壤微生物丰度受土壤碳氮活性基质的影响。     

长期施肥和增水对半干旱草地土壤性质和植物性状的影响

本文对内蒙古多伦退化草地2005年建立的长期野外控制试验中施肥和增水对土壤性质和植物群落特征的影响进行了总结和综合评述.结果表明:加氮导致了表土酸化并降低酸缓冲容量,提高了表土中碳氮磷硫有效性及DTPA-浸提态铁锰铜含量,导致盐基离子钙镁钾钠总量的消耗,降低了土壤微生物群落多样性,促进了优势植物物种叶片对氮磷硫钾及锰铜锌的吸收,抑制植物叶片对铁的吸收,而对钙镁吸收无显著影响,增加了植物地上净初级生产力(ANPP),降低了植物物种多样性和群落稳定性.单独加磷增加了表土全磷和Olsen-P含量及真菌丰度,促进了植物叶片对氮、磷、硫的吸收,但对其他土壤基本化学性质及ANPP、物种多样性无显著影响.增水提高了植物群落对干旱的抵抗力,但对ANPP增长的贡献受到土壤氮有效性的限制.增水对于加氮导致的土壤酸化、植物和微生物多样性降低等具有一定的缓冲作用;加氮增水和加磷增水下,土壤微生物多样性及功能受地上植物群落结构及功能变化的影响.长期野外控制试验对于深入理解草地生态系统结构和功能对环境变化的响应具有重要意义,但单点的研究结果仍需与不同区域多点控制试验的联网研究相结合,深入开展地上与地下生态过程的关联研究,才能深入理解草地生态系统生态学的相关机制.     

氮、磷添加对半干旱沙质草地植被养分动态的影响

通过对科尔沁半干旱沙质草地进行田间施肥试验,测定植被组成中黄蒿和白草在生长季内(7~10月)的养分动态变化,并结合N∶P化学计量学的原理和方法,研究了半干旱沙质草地的养分限制状况。结果表明,N、P添加下黄蒿和白草地上部分N、P养分浓度都具有明显的季节动态变化。其中,黄蒿和白草地上部分N浓度随时间呈递减的趋势,且它们随时间的递减规律分别可用线性函数Y=a bX以及幂函数Y=aXb模拟表示,函数中系数b的绝对值可以反映不同养分状况下植株的生长速率;对P浓度来说,黄蒿和白草地上部分P浓度与时间的关系可以用二次函数Y=aX2 bX c模拟。比较试验条件下植株体内N、P浓度的变化可知,在科尔沁半干旱沙质草地,N素是黄蒿和白草生长的主要养分限制因子,N肥添加下黄蒿和白草地上部分N浓度以及N∶P都显著的增加;P肥添加促进了白草对N素和P素的吸收,使地上部分N、P浓度增加,而对黄蒿没有显著的影响。     

氮添加对樟子松人工林氮转化及相关功能基因丰度的影响

土壤氮(N)的有效性是影响土壤微生物群落结构以及土壤氮循环的重要因子。为探索N添加对樟子松人工林氮素转化及N功能基因(NFGs)表达的影响及其作用机制,该文以塞罕坝千层板林场的樟子松人工林为研究对象,进行了2年的氮添加处理,设置4个不同氮添加水平0、1、5、10 g N·m^-2·a^-1,分别记作N0、N1、N5、N10,采用功能基因微阵GeoChip 5.0系统及室内土壤培养法,探讨了土壤NFGs对氮添加的反应及其对氮转化过程的影响。结果表明:(1)与N0相比,中低N添加处理(N1、N5)促进了氨化(ureC、nirA、nrfA)、硝化(amoA)和反硝化(norB)相关基因的相对丰度,高N处理(N10)则抑制了所有NFGs的表达。(2)相关分析表明,N1、N5的促进作用与土壤有机碳(SOC)、硝态氮(NO₃^--N)和微生物生物量碳(MBC)显著相关,N10处理显著降低了所有氮转化过程NFGs的相对丰度,这种负面影响与溶解性有机碳(DOC)、MBC含量的减少有关。(3)与氮转化基因丰度规律趋势相似,N1和N5处理显著增加了净N硝化、净N矿化以及N₂O的排放速率,但N10促进作用不明显,表明氮添加对氮转化的促进作用存在阈值。(4)多元回归分析进一步表明,amoA-AOB和MBC是影响净N硝化的关键因素,ureC、nirK和MBC是影响净氮矿化的关键因素,narG、nirS是影响N₂O排放的关键因素。综上,N添加可提高促进樟子松人工林的氮转化及提高部分特定酶功能基因的相对丰度,但氮添加水平存在阈值,当施用10 g N·m^-2·a^-1时,氮转化受到抑制,添加5 g N·m^-2·a^-1是促进樟子松人工林土壤N转化的较佳水平。     

短期增温和降水减少对半干旱沙质草地群落特征的影响

【目的】为探究短期增温和降水减少对沙质草地植物群落物种多样性、功能性状及生产力的影响,进一步揭示沙质草地植物群落特征对气候变化的响应。【方法】以科尔沁沙质草地植物群落为研究对象,利用开顶式生长室(OTC)模拟增温,研究降水减少0%、20%、40%和60%与增温的交互作用对沙质草地群落组成、物种多样性和功能性状的影响及群落特征与环境因子关系。【结果】结果显示:（1）短期增温和降水减少使沙质草地植物群落组成和物种优势度发生变化,其中优势物种猪毛蒿和达乌里胡枝子在短期增温和降水减少处理下均明显降低,短期增温和降水减少均显著降低了植物群落盖度和地上生物量。（2）短期增温显著降低了Margalef丰富度指数、Simpson指数、Shannon多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数,短期降水减少对沙质草地供试4种物种多样性指标均无显著影响。（3）短期增温显著提高了植物群落高度和叶干物质含量,显著降低叶厚度,短期降水减少显著提高了叶干物质含量和叶厚度,显著降低了植株高度和比叶面积。（4）短期增温是影响沙质草地物种多样性和功能性状的主要环境因素。【结论】综上可知,短期增温和降水减少改变了沙质草地群落特征,温度是影响沙质草地群落特征的主要环境因子。     

羊草草地植被-土壤系统氮循环研究

研究表明, 0～30 cm土层7月氮（N）总储量为479.2 g·m－2,其中主要为有机N,占总N量的98.5%,土壤中的无机N年度变化很大,在2.55～11.3 g·m－2之间,7月无机N储量为7.3 g·m－2,与其它类型草地不同,该类型草地土壤铵态N与硝态N含量有些季节相差不大,有些季节硝态N的含量超过铵态N的含量,铵态N的峰值出现的时间早于硝态N。植物根系吸收利用的无机N约为3.48 g·m－2·a－1,植物根系向地上每年输送的N量为2.97 g·m－2·a－1, 地上活体向地下转移的N量为1.54 g·m－2·a－1,植物地上部分每年转为立枯凋落物的N量为1.43 g m－2·a－1, 由立枯凋落物转为土壤有机N的量大于1.08 g·m－2·a－1,植物根系每年转为土壤有机N的量为1.51 g·m－2·a－1。     

羊草草地植被—土壤系统氮循环研究

研究表明,0－30cm土层7月氮（N）总储量为479．2g.m^-2,其中主要为有机N,占总N量的98．5％,土壤中的无机N年度变化很大,在2．55－11．3g.m^-2之间,7月无机N储量为7．3g.m^-2,与其它类型草地不同。该类型草地土壤铵态N与硝态N含量有些季节相差不大,有些季节硝态N的含量超过铵态N的含量,铵态N的峰值出现的时间早于硝态N。植物根系吸收利用的无机N约为3.48g.m^-2.a^-1,植物根系向地上每年输送的N量为2．97g.m^-2.a^-1,地上活体向地下转移的N量为1.54g.m^-2.a^-1,植物地上部分每年转为立估凋落物的N量为1.43g.m^-2.a^-1,由立枯凋落物转为土壤有机N的量大于1.08g.m^-2.a^-1,植物根系每年转为土壤有机N的量为1.51g.m^-2.a^-1。     

氮添加对樟子松人工林土壤细菌磷酸酶编码基因丰度的影响

为研究氮添加影响森林土壤有机磷矿化的微生物调控机制,分析了10年的野外氮添加(100 kg N ha^-2year^-1)对沙地樟子松人工林土壤微生物中编码酸性磷酸单酯酶、碱性磷酸单酯酶和植酸酶的功能基因(phoC、phoD和appA)丰度及相关酶活性和土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明,氮添加使樟子松人工林土壤中酸性和碱性磷酸单酯酶活性分别下降了18.09%和55.29%,植酸酶活性下降了41.88%。氮添加使土壤微生物中各基因拷贝数分别下降40.97%(16S-rRNA)、78.38%(phoD)、67.92%(phoC)、74.37%(appA)。各基因拷贝数占总细菌基因拷贝数的比例显著下降了61%(phoD)、44%(phoC)、55%(appA)。土壤微生物量碳、微生物量磷含量与酸性磷酸单脂酶、碱性磷酸单脂酶、植酸酶活性及16S rRNA、phoD、phoC、appA基因丰度显著正相关。土壤铵态氮含量与酸性磷酸单脂酶、碱性磷酸单脂酶活性及16S rRNA、phoC、appA基因丰度显著负相关。酸性磷酸单酯酶活性与其基因丰度显著正相关,其他两种...     

栽培模式对沙棘人工林土壤微生物群落结构和参与氮循环功能基因的影响

以沙棘×油松混交林、沙棘×侧柏混交林、沙棘×刺槐混交林、沙棘纯林的土壤为研究对象,对其土壤微生物种群结构、参与氮循环功能基因丰度进行了检测.结果表明: 沙棘与油松或侧柏混交能显著增加林地土壤总磷脂脂肪酸(总PLFA)、细菌脂肪酸(BPLFA)和革兰氏阳性菌脂肪酸(G⁺PLFA)含量,而真菌脂肪酸 (FPLFA)含量无明显变化.两种混交林地土壤的nifH、amoA、nirK和narG基因丰度明显高于沙棘纯林土壤.土壤总PLFA、G⁺PLFA、革兰氏阴性菌生物量(G^-PLFA)和4种功能基因的丰度均与土壤pH、土壤有机碳、总氮、NH₄⁺-N、速效钾呈显著正相关.不同栽培模式人工林土壤微生物群落和基因丰度的差异主要与土壤理化特性有关.沙棘与油松或侧柏混交为当地2种较好的栽培模式,能有效地改善土壤质量.     

放牧对草地土壤氮素循环关键过程的影响与机制研究进展

放牧是人类管理利用草地生态系统的最主要途径之一.食草动物的采食、践踏、卧息和排泄物归还等干扰不仅会改变草地地上植物群落,也会对土壤养分循环产生显著的影响.随着人类活动的加剧,放牧强度和频率也在逐渐增加,从而对草地土壤氮素循环关键过程产生重要影响.放牧主要通过改变土壤的物理性质、土壤氮库以及微生物的组成和结构,进而影响氮素在土壤中的迁移与转化.适度放牧会促进土壤氮素的矿化过程和硝化过程,加快氮素的周转,有利于植物吸收可利用氮素,而对于反硝化的影响与草地的水热条件和土壤类型等密切相关.目前,关于放牧强度对土壤氮素循环关键过程影响的研究结果不一致,其影响机制尚不明晰,尤其对于不同类型的草原仍存在较大的差异.本研究在大量查阅国内外已有研究结果的基础上,论述了放牧对土壤氮素循环关键过程的影响效应,总结了放牧对土壤氮素循环的影响机制,指出了目前研究过程中存在的不足,并对未来研究中值得重点关注和深入研究的科学问题进行了探讨与展望,为进一步理解放牧对草地土壤氮素循环的影响提供参考.     

黄土高原半干旱草地封育后土壤碳氮矿化特征

土壤有机碳和全氮的分布与矿化是退化草地封育后土壤生态效应研究的重要内容和指标。结合野外调查和室内培养实验,研究了半干旱黄土区不同封育年限草地土壤有机碳和全氮的含量变化及其矿化特征。结果表明,封育对半干旱黄土区退化草地土壤有机碳和全氮的影响主要体现在0-40 cm土层封育超过17a后,封育年限的影响逐渐减弱。封育显著增加了土壤有机碳矿化速率和C_(min)/C_0封育对有机碳矿化速率的影响与封育年限和土层深度无关,而对C_(min)/C_0的影响则与封育年限和土层深度有关。封育显著提高了0-40 cm土层土壤氮素矿化速率,但是降低了40-80 cm土层土壤氮矿化速率,并且降低了080 cm土层N_(min)/N_0。碳氮矿化速率与有机碳和全氮之间显著相关,而与碳氮比之间的相关性较小。这些结果表明,退化草地封育后土壤碳氮元素的转化主要受土层深度、封育年限以及土壤碳氮含量的影响。     

Long-term effects of grassland management on soil microbial abundance: implications for soil carbon and nitrogen storage

Grassland management intensification can significantly affect the structure and composition of important soil microbial groups such as bacteria and fungi. Changes to these microbial communities can greatly influence carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in grassland soils. Here we specifically address how microbial abundances might shift under the effect of multiple management practices and how this in turn might relate to changes in soil C and N storage. Soil samples were collected from a 23-year-old grassland experiment and real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed to address whether and how (1) chronic nutrient additions, (2) liming (i.e., the addition of CaCO₃ to soils), and (3) grazing by rabbits might affect archaeal, bacterial and fungal microbial groups. We found that liming additions significantly increased archaeal and bacterial abundance whilst strongly reducing fungal abundance. The addition of N-only (as NH₄NO₃) significantly reduced bacterial abundance while chronic grazing by rabbits resulted in positive effects on archaeal abundance. Despite long-term grassland management significantly affecting soil microbial abundances (and Fungal-to-Bacterial ratios), microbial changes were not related to either changes in soil C or N pools. Overall, our results suggest that (1) important microbial-‘soil functioning’ relationships may only be detected at lower taxonomic levels, and (2) liming-induced increases in soil pH determined significant shifts in soil microbial abundance, which could have important consequences for the delivery of multiple soil ecosystem services (i.e., nutrient regulation, C and N sequestration) from permanent grassland.     

Carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus storage in alpine grassland ecosystems of Tibet: effects of grazing exclusion

In recent decades, alpine grasslands have been seriously degraded on the Tibetan Plateau and grazing exclusion by fencing has been widely adopted to restore degraded grasslands since 2004. To elucidate how alpine grasslands carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) storage responds to this management strategy, three types of alpine grassland in nine counties in Tibet were selected to investigate C, N, and P storage in the environment by comparing free grazing (FG) and grazing exclusion (GE) treatments, which had run for 6–8 years. The results revealed that there were no significant differences in total ecosystem C, N, and P storage, as well as the C, N, and P stored in both total biomass and soil (0–30 cm) fractions between FG and GE grasslands. However, precipitation played a key role in controlling C, N, and P storage and distribution. With grazing exclusion, C and N stored in aboveground biomass significantly increased by 5.7 g m⁻² and 0.1 g m⁻², respectively, whereas the C and P stored in the soil surface layer (0–15 cm) significantly decreased by 862.9 g m⁻² and 13.6 g m⁻², respectively. Furthermore, the storage of the aboveground biomass C, N, and P was positively correlated with vegetation cover and negatively correlated with the biodiversity index, including Pielou evenness index, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, and Simpson dominance index. The storage of soil surface layer C, N, and P was positively correlated with soil silt content and negatively correlated with soil sand content. Our results demonstrated that grazing exclusion had no impact on total C, N, and P storage, as well as C, N, and P in both total biomass and soil (0–30 cm) fractions in the alpine grassland ecosystem. However, grazing exclusion could result in increased aboveground biomass C and N pools and decreased soil surface layer (0–15 cm) C and P pools.     

半干旱草地长期封育进程中针茅植物根系格局变化特征

以云雾山不同封育年限草地针茅植物根系和土壤为研究对象,对其根系特征、土壤特性及两者关系进行研究,以探讨分析封育对针茅根系格局的影响。结果表明:(1)针茅植物根系生物量、根长密度、根表面积和根体积在封育初期轻微下降,之后缓慢上升,并在封育30 a草地得到显著增加。(2)随封育年限增加,各根系指标在3种针茅物种间的组成格局具有类似变化规律,具体表现为:长芒草在放牧草地所占比例最高,之后逐渐降低,并在封育30 a草地消失;大针茅所占比例呈先升后降变化规律,并在封育22 a草地达到最大值;甘青针茅仅出现于封育30 a草地,且占据优势地位。(3)大针茅和甘青针茅0—0.6 mm径级根系比例高于大针茅,使其根系直径显著低于大针茅,比根长和比根面积显著高于大针茅;此外,长芒草根组织密度显著高于长芒草和甘青针茅。(4)长期封育在显著提高土壤水分、养分含量和土壤氮磷比的同时显著降低土壤碳氮比,但对微生物生物量碳、氮无明显影响。(5)针茅根系特征与土壤指标的关联性分析显示针茅根系受土壤氮资源的显著影响。     

短期围栏封育后再利用对草地植物群落的影响

短期围栏封育后再适度利用是当前生态治理工程中使用较多的草地恢复措施,明确其实施效果对后续生态工程的优化调整具有重要意义。目前关于围栏封育和放牧对草地影响的研究较为丰富,但鲜有研究探讨短期围栏封育后再利用对草地的长期影响。以京津风沙源工程2002—2005年间在锡林郭勒地区实施的围栏封育地块为研究对象,通过配对采样调查和遥感数据分析,开展围栏封育期和重新放牧利用期连续近20年的草地植物群落变化研究。结果表明,草地植被高度、覆盖度和地上生物量在3年的围栏封育期内迅速增加,重新放牧利用后这些指标虽有所下降但仍显著高于持续放牧草地,并最终达到稳定状态。2002—2020年间短期围栏封育后再利用地块的植被覆盖度(FVC)整体上呈不显著的增加趋势、净初级生产力(NPP)呈显著增加趋势,FVC和NPP呈增加趋势的地块比例在温性草甸草原区、温性荒漠草原区和温性草原区依次减少。总的来说,3年的围栏封育后再放牧利用对草地植物群落具有一定的恢复作用。     

氮添加量和施氮频率对温带半干旱草原土壤呼吸及组分的影响

日益加剧的氮沉降已经对陆地生态系统生产力和碳循环过程产生了显著影响。草原生态系统近90%的碳储存在土壤中, 明确土壤呼吸及其组分对氮添加的响应对评估大气氮沉降背景下草原生态系统碳平衡和土壤碳库稳定性是非常重要的。以往关于草原土壤呼吸对氮沉降响应的理解多是基于短期(<5年)和低频(每年1-2次)氮添加实验研究, 而关于长期氮添加和不同施氮频率对土壤呼吸及其组分的影响尚缺乏实验证据。该研究基于2008年建立在内蒙古半干旱草原的长期氮添加实验平台, 包括6个氮添加水平和2个施氮频率处理, 通过连续两年(2018-2019年)土壤呼吸及其组分的测定, 发现: 1)氮添加显著降低了土壤总呼吸速率(R_s), 且R_s下降程度随着氮添加量的增加而增强。土壤异养呼吸速率(R_h)的显著下降是R_s下降的主要原因。2)不同氮添加频率并未显著影响土壤呼吸及其组分对氮添加处理的响应。3)长期氮添加造成的土壤酸化降低了土壤微生物活性并改变了微生物群落结构(真菌/细菌比), 进而导致土壤呼吸及其异养组分呈现显著的负响应。以上结果表明, 长期(>10年)氮添加对土壤地下碳循环过程的抑制作用非常明显, 特别是异养呼吸组分的下降会降低土壤有机碳分解速率, 有助于土壤碳库稳定性的维持。同时, 随着氮添加处理时间的延长, 不同施氮频率影响效应的差异减弱, 表明目前长期的低频氮添加实验监测数据可以为评估自然生态系统对大气氮沉降的响应提供较为可靠的参考。     

Effects of long-term grazing on the morphological and functional traits of Leymus chinensis in the semiarid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China

Livestock grazing represents a major human disturbance to grasslands throughout the world. We evaluated the effects of long-term grazing (>20 years) on a dominant perennial grass species, Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., in the semiarid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China, in terms of its morphological and functional responses. L. chinensis, one of the most abundant species in semiarid grassland, had significantly smaller leaf area, fewer vegetative tillers and shorter shoot internodes length, but significantly greater specific leaf area for the individuals in the grazing plot than those in the exclosure (grazing-free) plot. Long-term grazing also altered the relative distribution of biomass to leaves, roots and rhizomes. The biomass, coverage and the number of species were lower in the grazing plot by 50–70% in comparison with those in the grazing-free plot. In addition, the long-term grazing substantively decreased the physiological capacities of this grass species, including significantly lower net photosynthetic rate, apparent quantum efficiency, photochemical efficiency of PSII and water use efficiency. Significantly higher stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ ¹⁸O) of the soil water in the grazing plot than those in the grazing-free plot indicated a much higher soil evaporation in the grazing plot because of less litter coverage. Seasonal patterns in the δ ¹⁸O values of the stem water of L. chinensis and three other common species in the grazing and grazing-free plots indicated that plants in the grazing and grazing-free plots might shift their water sources differently from a dry month (June) to a wet month (August). This study illustrated the importance of using different approaches to study the possible responses of grass species in arid regions to human disturbances, such as long-term grazing.     

Effects of grazing,topography, and precipitation on the structure of a semiarid grassland

Structural aspects of the shortgrass steppe plant community, functional groups, and species populations were examined in response to long-term heavy grazing and exclosure from grazing, contiguous wet or dry years, and an environmental gradient of topography. Of the three factors, relatively greater differences in community similarity were observed between catena positions, particularly on the ungrazed treatments. Grazing was intermediate between catena position and short-term weather in shaping plant community structure. Grazed treatments and ridgetops had a less variable species composition through fluctuations in weather.An increase with grazing of the dominant, heavily grazed species was observed. Basal cover and density of total species was also greater on grazed sites. The more uniform grazing lawn structure of the grazed plant communities had an influence on segregation of plant populations along topographical gradients. Segregation was less on grazed catenas, but diversity and the abundance of introduced and opportunistic-colonizer species was also less.Although the shortgrass steppe community was relatively invariant, less abundant species were dynamic and interactions occurred with respect to grazing, weather, and catena position. The effects of grazing may be mitigated by favorable growing seasons but magnified in unfavorable years in populations that are adapted to favorable sites. Grazing can be considered a disturbance at the level of the individual but it may or may not be a disturbance at the level of the population, and it is not a disturbance at the level of the community in this particular grassland.     

Plant functional diversity mediates the effects of vegetation and soil properties on community-level plant nitrogen use in the restoration of semiarid sandy grassland

Species-rich plant communities use nitrogen (N) more efficiently in grassland ecosystems; however, the role of plant functional diversity in affecting community level plant N-use has received little attention. We examined plant N content, stock and N-use efficiency at community-level along a restoration gradient of sandy grassland (mobile dune, semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland) in Horqin Sand Land, northern China. We used the functional trait-based approach to examine how plant functional diversity, reflected by the most abundant species’ traits (community-weighted mean, CWM) and the dispersion of functional trait values (FDis), affected N-use efficiency in sandy grassland restoration. We further used the structure equation model (SEM) to evaluate the direct or indirect effects of plant species richness, biomass, functional diversity and soil properties on community-level plant N-use efficiency. We found that plant biomass and its N stock increased following sandy grassland restoration, and there were lower plant N content and higher N-use efficiency in semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland as compared with mobile dune. N-use efficiency was positively associated with plant species richness, biomass, CWM plant height, CWM leaf C:N, FDis and soil gradient, but SEM results showed that species richness, CWM leaf C:N, plant biomass and FDis controlled by soil properties were the main factors exerting direct effects. CWM plant height also had a positive effect on N-use efficiency through its indirect effect on plant biomass. Soil gradient increased N-use efficiency through an indirect effect on vegetation rather than a direct effect. Final SEM models based on different plant functional diversity explained over 74% of variances in N-use efficiency. Effects of plant functional diversity on N-use efficiency supported both the mass ratio hypothesis and the complementarity hypothesis. Our results clearly highlight the important role of plant functional diversity in mediating the effects of vegetation and soil properties on community level plant N-use in sandy grassland ecosystems.