放牧管理模式对高寒草甸鼢鼠鼠丘群落演替的影响

高寒草甸放牧利用下高原鼢鼠(Eospalax baileyi)等危害的发生是草地管理的关键难题,分析放牧管理模式对鼢鼠鼠丘植被群落演替的影响能为草地管理提供重要依据。研究选择划区轮牧(RG)、生长季休牧(GSG)、连续放牧(CG)和禁牧(PG)4种放牧管理模式,以及各模式下不同年限鼠丘(一年(ZM1)、两年(ZM2)、三年(ZM3)和多年鼠丘(ZMM))与对照(CM)草地。分析不同放牧管理模式对鼠丘植被群落特征和生物量等的影响,结果发现:PG和GSG下所有年限鼠丘的植被高度、地上生物量均高于RG和CG;RG和GSG下ZM1和ZM2物种Shannon-wiener指数均高于对照样地物种Shannon-wiener指数。主成分分析表明:RG下地上生物量和物种丰富度指数是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要因子,PG下地上生物量、盖度、Shannon-wiener指数和均匀度指数是鼠丘植被群落演替的重要因子,CG下物种丰富度和重要值是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要指标,GSG下Shannon-wiener指数、盖度和高度是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要指标。可见,不同放牧制度对鼠丘植被群落演替的影响不同,禁牧和生长季休牧管理模式能够较好地恢复鼠丘植被群落演替。     

调控措施对祁连山中度退化高寒草甸土壤的影响

研究不同调控措施(春季休牧、春季休牧-划破草皮、春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥、春季休牧-划破草皮-播种、春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥-播种)对祁连山中度退化高寒草甸植被、土壤理化性质和土壤微生物生物量的影响。结果表明: 各调控措施均显著增加了退化高寒草甸植被盖度以及地上、地下生物量,春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥与春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥-播种两种措施下植被物种丰富度显著增加,春季休牧-划破草皮-播种与春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥-播种措施下物种优势种为补播草种青海草地早熟禾。中度退化高寒草甸土壤(对照)pH和容重显著高于各调控措施样地,春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥-播种措施下土壤含水量、土壤有机碳、全氮、全钾含量及碳氮比、氮磷比均最高,分别为21.3%、22.30 g·kg^-1、2.77 g·kg^-1、19.93 g·kg^-1、8.3、3.5。春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥-播种措施下退化草地土壤微生物生物量氮、磷(分别为104.98和40.74 mg·kg^-1)显著高于其他措施,而退化草地在春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥措施下土壤微生物生物量碳(240.72 mg·kg^-1)显著高于其他措施。雷达图表明,调控措施对退化草地植被特征(地上、地下生物量)、土壤理化性质(含水量、有机碳、全氮、全磷、全钾)及土壤微生物生物量(碳、氮、磷)特征影响显著,且春季休牧-划破草皮-施肥-播种措施对研究区退化草地的修复效果最佳。     

青海三江源区果洛藏族自治州草地退化成因分析

本文利用长期历史资料,通过分析气候变化和人类放牧活动对草地生产力的影响,探讨1960s以来青海三江源区果洛藏族自治州草地退化主要原因,结果显示：研究区是全球变暖的敏感地区,1961-2010年研究区气温升高、年降水略有下降、湿润程度下降,Miami模型、Thornthwaite Memorial模型和综合自然植被净第一性生产力模型（综合模型）模拟的该区植被净初级生产力（NPP）均具有上升趋势,近50年来研究区气候变化总体上有利于该区草地生产力改善;研究区家畜年末存栏数60年代剧烈上升,至70年代达到顶峰,家畜年末存栏数与植被NDVI呈极显著负相关关系(P<0.01),草地实际载畜量过大造成牲畜对草地过度啃食,导致草地退化。研究区退化草地恢复治理的重点应放在减轻载畜压力、控制草地现实载畜量方面。     

禁牧条件下不同类型草地群落结构特征

利用幂乘方法则模型探讨了鄂尔多斯3种不同类型草地在禁牧情况下的群落结构特征,包括物种组成、物种多样性、生物量和空间分布规律。结果表明:幂乘方法则在解析鄂尔多斯不同类型草地的空间异质性时具有很好的吻合性;羊草(Leymuschinensis)草地、芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens)草地和油蒿(Artemisia ordosica)灌丛草地均比随机分布呈现了较强的空间异质性,群落整体的空间异质性指数表现为油蒿灌丛草地>羊草草地>芨芨草草地;群落整体的物种多样性指数为油蒿灌丛草地>羊草草地>芨芨草草地;L-样方(50cm×50cm)内的平均物种数和物种多样性指数均表现为羊草草地极显著地高于油蒿灌丛草地,油蒿灌丛草地又极显著地高于芨芨草草地(P<0.001);L-样方内的平均生物量表现为油蒿灌丛草地极显著地高于芨芨草草地(P<0.001),而羊草草地与油蒿灌丛草地以及芨芨草草地之间没有显著性差异;这3种类型的草地其L-样方内的平均生物量和物种多样性指数都随着群落整体空间异质性指数的增大而增大。     

放牧胁迫下沙质草地植被的受损过程

通过在科尔沁沙地为期5a的放牧试验,分析探讨了过牧条件下沙质草地植被的受损过程。试验结果表明,持续过牧下,植被严重受损。其基本过程是,随着植物茎叶被大量啃食,草地群落盖度、高度和地上现存生物量急剧下降,连续过牧5a已分别较禁牧区低82．1％、94．0％和97．9％。但草地的净初级生产力(现存生物量 家畜采食量)下降幅度较小,第5年仍为禁牧的49．5％,而其被家畜啃食的净牧草量与现存生物量的比值高达23：1,远远高于中牧和轻牧的1：1和0．3：1水平。过牧下,物种丰富度、植物多样性和均匀度也急剧下降。第5年分别为禁牧区的35．0％、29．8％和45．9％,家畜喜食的多年生和1年生植物被不喜食的1年生植物所取代,劣质牧草比例达到86％,草地生活型趋于简单。随着地上净初级生产力的下降,地下生物量也趋于下降．根层分布浅层化。在这一退化过程的后期,由于地面裸露,风沙活动强烈,植被退化进程加速,这和草甸草原植被放牧所引起的退化存在明显区别。轻牧和中牧对草地群落盖度、高度和现存生物量也有很大影响．但试验期内对草地物种丰富度和植物多样性尚未产生明显影响。     

放牧干扰下高原鼢鼠栖息地选择因素

以祁连山东段高寒草甸栖息的高原鼢鼠(Myospalax baileyi)为研究对象,探讨放牧干扰下高原鼢鼠适合栖息地选择的影响因素,为合理控制草原鼠害和保护生物多样性提供科学依据。在5个不同放牧强度小区中,连续3年监测高原鼢鼠相对种群密度变化,同时获取植被和土壤的变化数据。分析高原鼢鼠相对种群密度、植被(盖度、高度、频度、植被生物量、植被均匀度、丰富度、多样性和地下根系生物量)和土壤(紧实度、容重、水分)之间的关系。中度放牧干扰下,高原鼢鼠相对种群密度最低,不利于对栖息地的选择,轻度、次轻度放牧区的高原鼢鼠相对种群密度高于重度、次重度放牧区的;轻度放牧干扰的草地有利于高原鼢鼠种群数量的增加。高原鼢鼠相对种群密度与土壤紧实度、容重呈显著负相关(R=﹣0.921、﹣0.883,P0.05);与土壤水分呈显著正相关(R=0.879,P0.05);高原鼢鼠相对种群密度与地下根系生物量呈极显著正相关(R=0.982,P0.01),与植被丰富度呈显著正相关(R=0.921,P0.05),与地上植被总盖度呈显著正相关(R=0.909,P0.05),与地上生物量、均匀度、多样性呈不显著正相关(P0.05)。在草地放牧干扰系统中,非生物因素土壤紧实度、水分可能是高原鼢鼠栖息地选择的首要选择因素,食物资源也许是次要选择因素。     

甘肃鼢鼠与SD大鼠骨骼肌低氧适应的比较

运用组织学和紫外分光光度法,对常氧、低氧2周和4周的甘肃鼢鼠(Myospalax cansus)及SD大鼠(Rattus norvegicus)骨骼肌形态结构、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)活力及肌红蛋白(Mb)浓度进行测定。结果显示,甘肃鼢鼠骨骼肌形态结构在常氧、低氧2周及4周后变化不明显;SD大鼠随低氧时间延长发生显著变化,低氧2周后,肌纤维明显萎缩,间隙增大,结构较紊乱;低氧4周后,肌纤维破裂,呈细丝状,不规则,大小不一致,肌节紊乱。甘肃鼢鼠LDH活性随低氧时间增长逐渐降低,但无显著性差异(P0.05);在不同时间低氧处理后,甘肃鼢鼠前后肢的LDH活性均极显著低于SD大鼠(P0.01);常氧条件下,甘肃鼢鼠前后肢SDH活性低于SD大鼠,但无显著差异(P0.05),低氧2周及4周后,与SD大鼠呈极显著差异(P0.01);常氧条件下,甘肃鼢鼠前后肢Mb浓度均显著高于SD大鼠(P0.05),低氧2周及4周后,极显著高于SD大鼠(P0.01)。结果表明,甘肃鼢鼠骨骼肌较SD大鼠有着更强的低氧耐受力。     

氮素添加对科尔沁沙质草地物种多样性和生产力的影响

物种多样性和生产力是生态系统结构和功能的重要指标.以科尔沁沙质草地为对象,通过对其进行不同梯度的氮素添加处理,研究氮素添加对沙质草地生态系统物种组成、物种多样性和生产力的影响.结果表明：氮素添加改变了群落物种组成和群落中的优势种,使植被的高度和盖度增加,植被的透光率减小;随着氮素水平的增加,群落中物种丰富度减小,物种多样性降低;不同水平的氮素添加均显著增加了(P<0.01)群落地上生物量;物种丰富度与植被透光率呈线性正相关(P<0.01),与植被盖度呈线性负相关关系(P<0.01),说明长期的氮沉降与人为氮素输入将影响沙地生态系统的物种组成、物种多样性以及生产力.     

三江源区高寒草甸土壤与草地退化关系冗余分析

通过在高寒草甸设置研究样地、进行植物群落特征观测、土壤样品采集、土壤主要物理化学性质分析测定, 利用退化草地群落特征和土壤因子数据进行冗余分析, 对高寒草甸土壤因子与草地退化之间的关系进行探讨。 结果表明:不同退化程度草地沿冗余分析排序图第一排序轴分布, 第一排序轴反映草地退化程度的变化; 草地植物群落特征中与第一排序轴负相关且按相关程度大小排序的指标为植被覆盖度>地上生物量>多样性指数>均匀性指数; 第一、第二排序轴能够解释 90.3%的草地退化与土壤因子关系; 土壤温度、容重与第一排序轴正相关, 土壤含水量、全氮、有效氮、全磷、土壤有机碳与第一排序轴负相关, 有效钾、粘粒占比与第二排序轴负相关; 第一排序轴及所有排序轴所反映的土壤因子均与草地退化样地之间呈极显著相关关系(P<0.01); 不同土壤因子与草地退化之间关系密切程度不同, 土壤温度(r = 0.929)、容重(r = 0.915)、土壤含水量(r = –0.916)、全氮(r = –0.907)、有效氮(r = –0.859)、全磷(r = –0.809)、土壤有机碳(r =–0.662)等与高寒草甸退化相关程度更高且相关关系极显著(P<0.01); 土壤因子中筛选出土壤温度、 全氮等 9 个敏感性土壤指标, 能够解释 93.3%的草地退化与土壤因子关系。利用退化草地群落特征和土壤因子数据矩阵进行冗余分析能够综合反映土壤因子与草地退化之间的关系及相关程度, 筛选后的土壤因子能够作为高寒草甸草地退化的敏感性指示指标。     

草地退化对三江源国家公园高寒草甸表层土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷的空间驱动

草地退化显著削弱了三江源高寒草甸的土壤肥力及生态承载功能,但空间尺度上的驱动强度和环境调控尚不清晰。在2020年7—8月,基于三江源国家公园高寒草甸典型分布区原生植被和退化植被的60个配对采样,研究表层(0—30 cm)土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)和全磷(TP)含量对草地退化的空间响应特征。三江源国家公园高寒草甸原生植被SOC和TN含量分别为(2.45±2.05)%(平均值±标准差,下同)和(0.25±0.20)%,配对样本t-检验的结果表明草地退化导致SOC和TN分别极显著(P<0.001)下降了44.0%和35.6%。TP对草地退化无显著响应(P=0.22)。原生植被的土壤C∶N∶P平均为59.6∶6.2∶1.0,草地退化导致化学计量值平均下降28.3%。一般线性模型的结果表明草地退化对SOC和TN及土壤生态化学计量特征的空间降低强度主要取决于纬度和海拔(P<0.01),与经度和土壤深度关系较弱(P>0.30),即低纬度高海拔的高寒草甸响应相对强烈。草地退化导致三江源国家公园高寒草甸土壤碳氮损失严重,降低了土壤生态化学计量。研究结果可为三江源退化高寒草甸土壤...     

放牧管理模式对高原鼢鼠(Eospalax baileyi)鼠丘形态特征的影响

为明晰放牧对高原鼢鼠（Eospalax baileyi）造丘活动的影响,于2019年5月、8月和10月分别对禁牧（No grazing,NG）、生长季休牧（Rest grazing in growing season,RG）、传统放牧（Traditional grazing,TG）和连续放牧（Continuous grazing,CG）4种放牧管理模式样地下高原鼢鼠的新鼠丘（2个月内形成）半径、高度、表面积和体积等进行测定,并分析其表面积、体积与土壤和植被生物量间的关系。结果发现：放牧管理模式显著影响了高原鼢鼠鼠丘形态特征,且具有季节性差异。NG下鼠丘的半径、表面积和体积最大,而CG下鼠丘的体积和表面积显著变小（P<0.05）,在8月和10月,鼠丘半径在CG样地显著小于其他3种放牧模式样地（P<0.05）;8月TG下鼠丘高度最高,而5月和10月NG下鼠丘高度最高,鼠丘高度在CG样地显著小于NG样地（P<0.05）。冗余分析2个排序轴几乎全部解释了土壤因子及地下生物量与鼠丘特征之间的关系,但各放牧管理模式下影响因子不同,NG样地的土壤容重（P<0.05）、土壤紧实度（P<0.01）和莎草科植物的地上生物量（P<0.01）,RG样地的地下生物量（P<0.01）、土壤紧实度（P<0.01）和豆科植物的地上生物量（P<0.01）,TG样地的禾本科和豆科植物的地上生物量（P<0.01）,CG样地的土壤水分、地下生生物量、土壤紧实度（P<0.05）和莎草科植物的地上生物量（P<0.01）均显著影响了鼠丘的形态特征。可见,放牧会影响高原鼢鼠的鼠丘形态特征,进而对草地的演替产生不同的影响。     

Functional difference of malate-aspartate shuttle system in liver between plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

To explore the adaptive mechanisms of plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) to the enduring digging activity in the hypoxic environment and of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) to the sprint running activity, the functional differences of malate-aspartate shuttle system (MA) in liver of plateau zokor and plateau pika were studied. The ratio of liver weight to body weight, the parameters of mitochondria in hepatocyte and the contents of lactic acid in serum were measured; the open reading frame of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (MDH1), mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH2), and the partial sequence of aspartate glutamate carrier (AGC) and oxoglutarate malate carrier (OMC) genes were cloned and sequenced; MDH1, MDH2, AGC and OMC mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR; the specific activities of MDH1 and MDH2 in liver of plateau zokor and plateau pika were measured using enzymatic methods. The results showed that, (1) the ratio of liver weight to body weight, the number and the specific surface of mitochondria in hepatocyte of plateau zokor were markedly higher than those of plateau pika (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but the content of lactic acid in serum of plateau pika was significantly higher than that of plateau zokor (P < 0.01); (2) MDH1 and MDH2 mRNA levels as well as their enzymatic activities in liver of plateau zokor were significantly higher than those of plateau pika (P < 0.01 or 0.05), AGC mRNA level of the zokor was significantly higher than that of the pika (P < 0.01), while no difference was found at OMC mRNA level between them (P > 0.05); (3) mRNA level and enzymatic activity of MDH1 was significantly lower than those of MDH2 in the pika liver (P < 0.01), MDH1 mRNA level of plateau zokor was markedly higher than that of MDH2 (P < 0.01), but the activities had no difference between MDH1 and MDH2 in liver of the zokor (P > 0.05). These results indicate that the plateau zokor obtains ATP in the enduring digging activity by enhancing the function of MA, while plateau pika gets glycogen for their sprint running activity by increasing the process of gluconeogenesis. As a result, plateau pika converts the lactic acid quickly produced in their skeletal muscle by anaerobic glycolysis and reduces dependence on the oxygen.     

高原鼢鼠繁殖特性与其栖息草地质量的关系

高原鼢鼠种群密度动态变化与其繁殖特性密切相关,而繁殖特性又与其栖息环境有关。为了解高原鼢鼠繁殖特性与其栖息草地质量的关系,本文在祁连山东段选择两个不同高原鼢鼠种群密度分布区,在其繁殖期调查各密度区雌雄个体不同月份的繁殖特性、草地生物量、植物组成、地下根系重量及根系可溶性糖含量、土壤紧实度和水分变化。通过多因素方差分析和独立样本T检验研究繁殖特性与草地质量的关系。结果显示：在高原鼢鼠繁殖期,5月为繁殖高峰期,6月进入繁殖末期;不同种群密度区之间个体繁殖强度无显著性差异（P>0.05）;雌性繁殖强度在繁殖高峰期无显著性差异（P>0.05）,而繁殖末期存在显著差异（P<0.05）;高原鼢鼠性比在繁殖高峰期表现为低密度区大于高密度区,而在繁殖初期和繁殖末期为高密度区大于低密度区;两个种群密度区之间,草地植物组成、草地地上生物量、可利用草地生物量和地下生物量无显著性差异（P>0.05）,而0-30 cm土层根系根可溶性糖含量存在显著性差异（P<0.05）;除高原鼢鼠采食深度（0-20 cm）外,不同密度区土壤紧实度无显著性差异（P>0.05）,而0-30 cm土层土壤水分含量存在显著性差异（P<0.05）。结果表明在一定种群密度下,高原鼢鼠繁殖特性的变化与地下根可溶性糖含量和土壤水分有关,而繁殖特性与草地植物学组成、草地生物量无显著关系。     

Hydrologic Variability Affects Invertebrate Grazing on Phototrophic Biofilms in Stream Microcosms

The temporal variability of streamflow is known to be a key feature structuring and controlling fluvial ecological communities and ecosystem processes. Although alterations of streamflow regime due to habitat fragmentation or other anthropogenic factors are ubiquitous, a quantitative understanding of their implications on ecosystem structure and function is far from complete. Here, by experimenting with two contrasting flow regimes in stream microcosms, we provide a novel mechanistic explanation for how fluctuating flow regimes may affect grazing of phototrophic biofilms (i.e., periphyton) by an invertebrate species (Ecdyonurus sp.). In both flow regimes light availability was manipulated as a control on autotroph biofilm productivity and grazer activity, thereby allowing the test of flow regime effects across various ratios of biofilm biomass to grazing activity. Average grazing rates were significantly enhanced under variable flow conditions and this effect was highest at intermediate light availability. Our results suggest that stochastic flow regimes, characterised by suitable fluctuations and temporal persistence, may offer increased windows of opportunity for grazing under favourable shear stress conditions. This bears important implications for the development of comprehensive schemes for water resources management and for the understanding of trophic carbon transfer in stream food webs.     

常氧条件下高原鼢鼠、甘肃鼢鼠及SD大鼠血液理化特征比较

为探讨不同低氧环境适应动物的血液理化特征,用美国雅培手掌血气分析仪分别测定常氧适应4周的高原鼢鼠(Myospalax baileyi)及甘肃鼢鼠(M.cansus)血液的血气、酸碱及电解质指标,并与SD大鼠(Rattus norvegicus)进行比较。结果显示,常氧适应后,甘肃鼢鼠与高原鼢鼠动脉氧分压(PaO2)、静脉氧分压(PvO2)、动静脉氧分压差(PaO2﹣PvO2)、动脉氧饱和度(SaO2)、静脉氧饱和度(SvO2)及氧利用率均无显著性差异,两种动物静脉血的氧分压和氧饱和度均极显著低于SD大鼠,氧利用率极显著高于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠与甘肃鼢鼠动、静脉血红蛋白(Hb)及动、静脉红细胞压积(HCT)无显著性差异,血红蛋白含量与SD大鼠无显著性差异,但红细胞压积(HCT)极显著低于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠和甘肃鼢鼠血液酸碱特征趋于一致,不同于SD大鼠,动静脉pH差(pHa﹣pHv)及动静脉CO2总含量差(TvCO2﹣TaCO2)显著高于SD大鼠,动脉二氧化碳分压(PaCO2)极显著低于SD大鼠,动静脉二氧化碳分压差(PvCO2﹣PaCO2)极显著高于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠和甘肃鼢鼠血浆中钠离子(Na+)浓度、钾离子(K+)浓度、游离钙离子(iCa2+)浓度及动静脉钠离子浓度差(Na+v﹣Na+a)、钾离子浓度差(K+v﹣K+a)和游离钙离子浓度差(iCa2+v﹣iCa2+a)无显著性差异;高原鼢鼠动脉血钾离子浓度显著低于SD大鼠,钾离子浓度差显著高于SD大鼠;甘肃鼢鼠钾离子浓度差及动、静脉血钙离子浓度显著高于SD大鼠。这些结果说明,低氧适应动物血气、酸碱及电解质特征一致,与地面生活的SD大鼠差异很大,表现出较低的红细胞压积和较高的氧利用率,血液能耐受较宽范围的酸碱变化,维持电解质稳定,保证内环境稳态。     

Understory vegetation indicates historic fire regimes in ponderosa pine‐dominated ecosystems in the Colorado Front Range

Question: Can current understory vegetation composition across an elevation gradient of Pinus ponderosa‐dominated forests be used to identify areas that, prior to 20th century fire suppression, were characterized by different fire frequencies and severities (i.e., historic fire regimes)? Location: P. ponderosa‐dominated forests in the montane zone of the northern Colorado Front Range, Boulder and Larimer Counties, Colorado, USA. Methods: Understory species composition and stand characteristics were sampled at 43 sites with previously determined fire histories. Indicator species analyses and indirect ordination were used to determine: (1) if stands within a particular historic fire regime had similar understory compositions, and (2) if understory vegetation was associated with the same environmental gradients that influence fire regime. Classification and regression tree analysis was used to ascertain which species could predict fire regimes. Results: Indicator species analysis identified 34 understory species as significant indicators of three distinct historic fire regimes along an elevation gradient from low‐ to high‐elevation P. ponderosa forests. A predictive model derived from a classification tree identified five species as reliable predictors of fire regime. Conclusions: P. ponderosa‐dominated forests shaped by three distinct historic fire regimes have significantly different floristic composition, and current understory compositions can be used as reliable indicators of historical differences in past fire frequency and severity. The feasibility demonstrated in the current study using current understory vegetation properties to detect different historic fire regimes, should be examined in other fire‐prone forest ecosystems.     

高原鼢鼠干扰对三江源区高寒草甸群落特征的影响

高原鼢鼠是三江源高寒草甸区域的主要啮齿动物之一.它啃食植物根系,挖掘大量通道,并将挖掘出的土壤堆积于地表,形成覆盖于植物地上部分的裸露土丘,对草地群落特征会产生不同程度的影响.本研究以高原鼢鼠土丘密度表示高原鼢鼠对草地的干扰程度,选取7个不同高原鼢鼠土丘密度的样地,同时选取没有遭受高原鼢鼠干扰的样地作为对照,获得各样地的物种信息及地上、地下生物量,探讨不同高原鼢鼠干扰强度对草地群落的物种组成、物种多样性及群落生产力的影响.结果表明: 随着高原鼢鼠土丘的增加,草地植物优势种群发生由以莎草科和禾本科植物为主向珠牙蓼、鹅绒委陵菜、西伯利亚蓼等杂类草植物为主的转变,群落盖度和高度显著降低;轻度或中度的高原鼢鼠干扰能够提高群落的物种多样性,而群落均匀度指数变化不显著;群落生产力不存在类似中度干扰假说的结果.随高原鼢鼠干扰活动的增强,群落地上、地下及总生物量显著降低,群落生产力大幅度降低.     

Confounding effects of snow cover on remotely sensed vegetation indices of evergreen and deciduous trees: An experimental study

Located at northern latitudes and subject to large seasonal temperature fluctuations, boreal forests are sensitive to the changing climate, with evidence for both increasing and decreasing productivity, depending upon conditions. Optical remote sensing of vegetation indices based on spectral reflectance offers a means of monitoring vegetation photosynthetic activity and provides a powerful tool for observing how boreal forests respond to changing environmental conditions. Reflectance-based remotely sensed optical signals at northern latitude or high-altitude regions are readily confounded by snow coverage, hampering applications of satellite-based vegetation indices in tracking vegetation productivity at large scales. Unraveling the effects of snow can be challenging from satellite data, particularly when validation data are lacking. In this study, we established an experimental system in Alberta, Canada including six boreal tree species, both evergreen and deciduous, to evaluate the confounding effects of snow on three vegetation indices: the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the photochemical reflectance index (PRI), and the chlorophyll/carotenoid index (CCI), all used in tracking vegetation productivity for boreal forests. Our results revealed substantial impacts of snow on canopy reflectance and vegetation indices, expressed as increased albedo, decreased NDVI values and increased PRI and CCI values. These effects varied among species and functional groups (evergreen and deciduous) and different vegetation indices were affected differently, indicating contradictory, confounding effects of snow on these indices. In addition to snow effects, we evaluated the contribution of deciduous trees to vegetation indices in mixed stands of evergreen and deciduous species, which contribute to the observed relationship between greenness-based indices and ecosystem productivity of many evergreen-dominated forests that contain a deciduous component. Our results demonstrate confounding and interacting effects of snow and vegetation type on vegetation indices and illustrate the importance of explicitly considering snow effects in any global-scale photosynthesis monitoring efforts using remotely sensed vegetation indices.