From Survey to Ecology: The Role of the British Vegetation Committee, 1904–1913

This article focuses on early British vegetation science, in particular on the British Vegetation Committee. In earlier histories of (plant) ecology, the period of the Committee's life, 1904–1913, renowned for its surveys and its maps, was depicted as a brief prelude to British plant ecology. This article traces the course of ``survey' and ``ecology' within the Committee, demonstrating that survey and ecology were both distinct and intertwined within the Committee.The Committee adhered to two lines of research, one analyzing relatively large areas of vegetation on a small scale (few details), and the other, relatively small areas on a large scale (great detail). When the Committee was founded, vegetation research of relatively large areas dominated, but the balance gradually swung towards research on small areas. Two prominent Committee members, Smith and Tansley, furthermore advocated two research plans, a national survey plan and an ecological research plan. These diverging ideals however co‐existed peacefully and uncontroversially, in contrast to a survey and ecology dichotomy suggested in earlier accounts.An analysis demonstrates the intertwinement of survey and ecology in the period of the Committee's existence. The ``ecological expeditions' also mapped vegetation, and the scale of the ``survey work' moreover increased in the Committee's early years. Only by acknowledging their intertwinement can the fate of a particular kind of ``survey-research' be understood. My analysis shows that this kind of vegetation research did not survive the Committee because of its ecological orientation. This conclusion contradicts the impression prevailing from earlier historical accounts, viz. that British survey work failed because it was insufficiently ecological. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Permafrost response to temperature rise in carbon and nutrient cycling: Effects from habitat‐specific conditions and factors of warming

Permafrost is experiencing climate warming at a rate that is two times faster than the rest of the Earth''s surface. However, it is still lack of a quantitative basis for predicting the functional stability of permafrost ecosystems in carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. We compiled the data of 708 observations from 89 air‐warming experiments in the Northern Hemisphere and characterized the general effects of temperature increase on permafrost C exchange and balance, biomass production, microbial biomass, soil nutrients, and vegetation N dynamics through a meta‐analysis. Also, an investigation was made on how responses might change with habitat‐specific (e.g., plant functional groups and soil moisture status) conditions and warming variables (e.g., warming phases, levels, and timing). The net ecosystem C exchange (NEE) was found to be downregulated by warming as a result of a stronger sensitivity to warming in respiration (15.6%) than in photosynthesis (6.2%). Vegetation usually responded to warming by investing more C to the belowground, as belowground biomass increased much more (30.1%) than aboveground biomass (2.9%). Warming had a minor effect on microbial biomass. Warming increased soil ammonium and nitrate concentrations. What''s more, a synthesis of 70 observations from 11 herbs and 9 shrubs revealed a 2.5% decline of N in green leaves. Compared with herbs, shrubs had a stronger response to respiration and had a decline in green leaf N to a greater extent. Not only in dry condition did green leaf N decline with warming but also in wet conditions. Warming in nongrowing seasons would negatively affect soil water, C uptake, and biomass production during growing seasons. Permafrost C loss and vegetation N decline may increase with warming levels and timing. Overall, these findings suggest that besides a positive C cycling–climate feedback, there will be a negative feedback between permafrost nutrient cycling and climate warming.     

Reconstructing pre-impact vegetation cover in modified landscapes using environmental modelling, historical surveys and remnant vegetation data: a case study in the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia

Aim To investigate the application of environmental modelling to reconstructive mapping of pre‐impact vegetation using historical survey records and remnant vegetation data. Location The higher elevation regions of the Fleurieu Peninsula region in South Australia were selected as a case study. The Fleurieu Peninsula is an area typical of many agricultural regions in temperate Australia that have undergone massive environmental transformation since European settlement. Around 9% of the present land cover is remnant vegetation and historical survey records from the ad 1880s exist. It is a region with strong gradients in climate and topography. Methods Records of pre‐impact vegetation distribution made in surveyors’ field notebooks were transcribed into a geographical information system and the spatial and classificatory accuracy of these records was assessed. Maps of remnant vegetation distribution were obtained. Analysis was undertaken to quantify the environmental domains of historical survey record and remnant vegetation data to selected meso‐scaled climatic parameters and topo‐scaled terrain‐related indices at a 20 m resolution. An exploratory analytical procedure was used to quantify the probability of occurrence of vegetation types in environmental domains. Probability models spatially extended to geographical space produce maps of the probability of occurrence of vegetation types. Individual probability maps were combined to produce a pre‐impact vegetation map of the region. Results Surveyors’ field notebook records provide reliable information that is accurately locatable to levels of resolution such that the vegetation data can be spatially correlated with environmental variables generated on 20 m resolution environmental data sets. Historical survey records of vegetation were weakly correlated with the topo‐scaled environmental variables but were correlated with meso‐scaled climate. Remnant vegetation records similarly not only correlated to climate but also displayed stronger relationships with the topo‐scaled environmental variables, particularly slope. Main conclusions A major conclusion of this study is that multiple sources of evidence are required to reconstruct past vegetation patterns in heavily transformed region. Neither the remnant vegetation data nor historical survey records provided adequate data sets on their own to reconstruct the pre‐impact vegetation of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Multiple sources of evidence provide the only means of assessing the environmental and historical representativeness of data sets. The spatial distribution of historical survey records was more environmentally representative than remnant vegetation data, which reflect biases due to land clearance. Historical survey records were also shown to be classificatory and spatially accurate, thus are suitable for quantitative spatial analyses. Analysis of different spatial vegetation data sets in an environmental modelling framework provided a rigorous means of assessing and comparing respective data sets as well as mapping their predicted distributions based on quantitative correlations. The method could be usefully applied to other regions where predictions of pre‐impact vegetation cover are required.     

Topical gradients in plant ecology

Plant ecology spans multiple levels of biological organization and spatio-temporal scales, and over four dozen plant ecology textbooks have been published since Warming??s (1895) ??Oecology of Plants.?? With increasing emphasis on specialization, students and teachers can feel paralyzed by the vast literature, and as such may lack an adequate appreciation of the history of the field. The objective of this study was to derive a comprehensive set of topics that are covered in plant ecology textbooks, and to ask (1) what are the most important topical gradients among textbooks, and (2) has the emphasis of topics changed over time? The NMS ordination determined that the first gradient represented a clear contrast in emphasis on physiological ecology versus community ecology. The second gradient represented a contrast in emphasis on abiotic environmental factors versus biotic factors. Negative interactions, growth, demography, gas exchange, mineral nutrition, stress, diversity, disturbance, herbivory, paleoecology, ecosystem ecology, pollution, and global change have increased in emphasis over time. The increasing reliance on data and the number of authors per textbook illustrates how the discipline has matured into a rigorous quantitative science that requires a diversity of specializations. These results can be used to inform the development of curricula within a single course or across several years of study, and to assist the development of new and revised textbooks. Plant ecologists need to be familiar with this core set of topics in addition to becoming an expert in a few of them.     

3S技术及其在生态学研究中的应用

随着国民经济的迅速发展,人类对资源环境的需求越来越高,及时、准确、动态地获取资源现状及其变化信息对资源、生态环境的保护及可持续发展具有重要意义。本文综述了3S技术即遥感(RS)、地理信息系统(GIS)、全球定位系统(GPS)的概念、特点及其研究进展,探讨了3S技术在景观生态学及景观异质性研究、空间格局分析与模拟的应用;并对3S技术在群落生态学、植被调查、生物多样性研究、植被制图以及其它生态学领域中的应用作了展望。     

自组织特征映射网络在北京松山自然保护区山地草甸数量分析中的应用

采用自组织特征映射网络(SOM)对松山自然保护区山地草甸群落进行了数量分类研究, 并用Kruskal-Wallis检验和Tukey多重比较方法分析了草甸类型的环境因子之间差异的显著性。结合完全连接法和SOM, 将松山自然保护区的山地草甸群落分为7个类型, 其群落结构、物种组成等特征明显。这7个山地草甸群落主要受海拔高度、坡度、枯枝落叶层厚度和土壤深度等环境因子的影响, 其差异极显著。生态学分析表明SOM是非常有效的植物群落分类方法, 适合于山地草甸植被的 研究。     

A quantitative analysis of photometric data from aerial photographs for vegetation survey

This paper describes the application of quantitative density analysis to black and white aerial photographs for vegetation survey using a Quantimet 720 image analyser. The photometric data are analysed using both a supervised and an unsupervised classification strategy. Floristic data collected from an independent ground survey, are used to categorise those vegetation classes of interest against which the photometric data classifications are assessed. The preliminary results obtained suggest that broad classes of vegetation types may be distinguished automatically from their grey scale distribution patterns.     

Zur soziologischen Gliederung von Sandstrand-Gesellschaften der Ostseeküste

Emanating from own research on vegetation zones near to Hälsingborg (Öresund), at the coast of W-Mecklenburg, and at the east coast of the Gulf of Finland a summerizing survey is given of vegetation units in the foreshore, the embryonic dune and the high dune of the Baltic shores (see table 2–14). The affinities and differentiations of the described plant communities dependent on ecology and geography are tabled (see table 15–20). Propositions to a system nearly according to nature are given correspondent with the sociological affinity.     

基于快速普查方法的深圳植被优势种特征研究

植被普查是了解城市地表植被群落特征最常见的方法,也是进一步进行城市生态学、植物学等研究的方法基础。基于植被调查的不同目的、不同尺度、不同地貌,调查人员所选择的方法也各有差异。此次调查旨在对深圳陆域尺度的优势种特征进行研究,利用高分辨率遥感卫星图片与地面实地调查相结合的方法对深圳陆域植被开展了快速普查,结果显示：（1）深圳陆域共有优势植物182科、858属、1443种,其中被子植物占主要地位,占优势植物总种数的94.66%;（2）从优势种子植物科的地理分布来看,深圳陆域优势种子植物科归属于14个分布区,植物地理成分较为复杂,热带区系属性非常明显;（3）划分出非邻近的纹理异质性群丛斑块83834个,归为741类群系,12个植被型,南亚热带常绿阔叶林、南亚热带草丛、南亚热带灌丛占绝对优势;（4）经统计,郊区群系类型较城区更为丰富,郊区608类群系,城区569类群系,其中,共有群系437类,城-郊各自优势植物科、属、种数量差异不明显;（5）对比《中国外来入侵植物名录》和相关学者的学术论文,筛选出深圳外来入侵植物62科、200属、258种,主要集中在豆科、菊科、禾本科等科。根据本次植被快速普查过程和结果给出城市植被管理和改善植被普查方法的建议,旨为今后的城市政策制定和规划实施提供科学依据。另外为了验证此次调查方法的科学性和调查结果的正确性,将本文结果与采用传统长周期方法的两支高校调查队伍的调研结果进行了比对,本次结果包含高校队伍调查结果优势种数量的88.5%,体现了本方法在优势植物物种普查中的有效性。     

滇东菌子山喀斯特森林的植被类型及其特征

菌子山喀斯特森林区位于云南东部师宗县, 在植被区划上属滇中、滇东高原半湿润常绿阔叶林与云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)林区。该片森林以次生林为主, 是这一植被区东部边缘残留森林的典型代表。为揭示菌子山喀斯特森林类型组成及其群落特征, 该研究对该森林区开展了系统的样方调查, 记录了群落的物种组成、数量特征、生境信息等。通过对29个样方的调查数据的分析, 基于群落学-生态学分类原则和最新的中国植被分类系统修订方案, 该喀斯特森林可划分为4个植被型, 16个群系和27个群丛。该研究对每个群丛的特征进行了描述, 提供了所有样方的原始数据。     

The Eucleo divinori — Acacietum nigricentis,a new association from the calcareous bottomland clays of the Manyeleti Game Reserve,Eastern Transvaal Lowveld,Gazankulu, South Africa

As part of a vegetation survey programme for nature conservation areas in South Africa, a survey of the plant communities of the mesic calcareous bottomland clays in the Manyeleti Game Reserve was undertaken. The Eucleo divinori — Acacietum nigricentis, a new association, is restricted to these soils. From a Braun-Blanquet analysis of the vegetation, two new subassociations, each with two variants, were identified and described. A quantitative assessment of the woody component of each syntaxon is presented. Ordinations based on the floristic and habitat data revealed the position of the syntaxa on an environmental gradient.     

我国喀斯特植被根系生态学研究进展

我国传统的植被根系生态学研究主要针对热带、亚热带、温带以及西部干旱半干旱的非喀斯特地区,而对喀斯特地区植被根系生态学的研究甚少,对其认识相对零散和片段化。该文对我国喀斯特地区植被生境特点、根系特征（根系生物量、根系构型、根系化学养分）、自然因子和人为因子对根系生态学特征的影响,以及植被根系与植被演替、碳循环、全球变化的关系等进行综述,并对今后喀斯特地区植被根系的研究方向及发展趋势进行展望,旨在为我国喀斯特植被根系生态学的深入研究提供参考。     

三峡大老岭地区森林群落的数量分类研究

在大量的嫩落样方调查基础上,利用二元批示种分类法（ＴＷＩＮＳＰＡＮ）对三峡大老岭地区的森林群落进行数量分类,并据此划人会区山地植被垂直带的高度范围,讨论了ＴＷＩＮＳＰＡＮ方法的特点及其应用于结构复杂的亚热带木时应依据的原则。最后,文章总结了大老岭地区的森林群落类型。     

沙质草原沙漠化过程中植被演替研究现状和展望

在综述了我国半干旱地区沙质草地沙漠化过程中植被演替研究现状,提出了目前沙地植被演替研究中存在的主要问题和今后的研究工作。指出,①沙地植被演替的最大特点就是沙质地表基质的流动性和风沙活动伴随着植被演替的各阶段,研究中应考虑近地表风沙流的影响;②在干扰对生态系统影响越来越大的今天,沙地植被的演替序列往往出现一些随机性和不规则性,应加强对沙地植被演替序列的非线性和演替顶极的多元性、多样性的研究;③应继续从生理生态、种群生态、群落生态以及生态系统生态等不同水平层面上深入研究演替过程中植物种的替代机制,还应加强沙地土壤种子库与地上植被动态耦合、种子岛效应等的研究,以及沙地植被演替趋势和速率等的预测。     

USLE/RUSLE模型中植被覆盖管理因子的遥感定量估算研究进展

通用土壤流失方程（USLE）及其后续修正方程（RUSLE）是区域土壤侵蚀风险评估和水土保持规划的有效工具.植被覆盖管理因子作为USLE和RUSLE的重要参数之一,其合理估算对土壤侵蚀的准确预测尤为重要.基于野外实地调查和测量的传统估算法费时、费力且费用高,无法满足宏观尺度上植被覆盖管理因子的快速提取.近年来,遥感技术的发展为大尺度植被覆盖管理因子获取提供了丰富的数据和方法.本文基于国内外相关研究成果,综述了植被覆盖管理因子遥感定量估算方法的研究进展,评述了各类方法的优劣,以期为进一步开展大尺度植被覆盖管理因子的定量估算及拓展现有研究思路提供借鉴.     

Effect of vegetation data collection strategies on estimates of relevant source area of pollen (RSAP) and relative pollen productivity estimates (relative PPE) for non-arboreal taxa

Thirteen surface moss samples were collected for pollen analysis from an area of heathland in western Norway. Vegetation composition at different distances around the sampling locations was measured using three different survey methods; rooted frequency within a sub-divided 1 m × 1 m quadrat, visual estimates of cover within a 1 m × 1 m quadrat and a modified form of the ‘circle-walking method’. Extended R-value analysis was used to explore the pollen–vegetation relationships for five main taxa, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium-type, Cyperaceae, Poaceae and Potentilla-type. The estimates of relevant source area of pollen obtained were similar regardless of the vegetation survey method. Values obtained were always under 4 m. However, estimates of relative pollen productivity and the background pollen component (proportion of pollen coming from vegetation growing beyond the relevant source area of pollen) differ markedly depending on the method of vegetation survey chosen. This has important implications for the quantitative reconstruction of past vegetation cover.     

青藏高原各主要植被类型特征及环境差异

青藏高原高海拔引起的地形、气候和土壤空间差异造就了其独特的植被类型及其空间变化,当前研究缺乏针对青藏高原全域范围内各植被类型特征和环境差异的定量与系统性分析。针对青藏高原特殊的地理环境和植被类型,选用植被、地形、土壤、气候4个维度共计58个空间化指标,采用频数分布统计方法对这些指标开展了定量分析,系统揭示了青藏高原全域范围内各主要植被类型的特征及环境差异。通过定量分析发现,大部分的环境及植被特征指标对青藏高原各主要植被类型的区分度较高,其中,遥感归一化植被指数、植被净初级生产力、裸地覆盖度、海拔、土壤温度、年最低温度、年总蒸散发7个指标对青藏高原各主要植被类型的区分度较高。揭示的青藏高原各主要植被类型的特征及环境差异,可提高灌丛和草地之间、各草地类型之间、高山苔原-垫状-稀疏植被与其他植被类型之间的可区分性,有助于解决青藏高原植被精细分类中广泛存在的灌丛和草地区分、草地类型细分、高山苔原-垫状-稀疏植被识别和山地垂直地带植被识别四个难点问题。研究结果一方面可服务于青藏高原的植被精细分类,另一方面也可服务于青藏高原的自然地带划分、生物多样性和生态系统功能评估、地表物质循环研究等。     

Henry Allan Gleason and the individualistic hypothesis: The structure of a botanist’s career

This paper provides a detailed account of Henry Allan Gleason’s career in ecology, paying particular attention to the development of his controversial individualistic hypothesis of the plant community. It is noted that Gleason developed and maintained a high level of skill in floristic botany. The argument is advanced that the individualistic hypothesis embodies a floristic perspective on vegetation. His pioneering papers on the quantitative analysis of vegetation are carefully examined and it is argued that they too reflect floristic and individualistic concerns. The overall shape of Gleason’s career is interpreted in terms of acquired skills, pedagogical inputs, institutional contexts, and professional and social interests. It is suggested that the characteristics of the work of many of his ecological colleagues may likewise be explained in terms of skills and interests, particularly those gained in other fields, such as physiography and physiology. The reasons for the generally hostile initial reaction to Gleason’s individualistic concept are examined. As well as providing historical background to the long and continuing debate over the nature of the plant community, an examination of Gleason’s career sheds important light on the cognitive development of American plant ecology during a formative period for the discipline. Other historians have not fully realised the extent of Gleason’s involvement in ecology during this time.     

相机陷阱在野生动物种群生态学中的应用

种群参数估计及空间分布格局是动物生态学和保护生物学领域的重要目标之一.最近十几年来, 相机陷阱(camera trap)作为野外调查的一种非损伤性技术手段,在传统调查方法难以实现的情况下表现出极大优势,被广泛应用于野生动物生态学和保护学研究中.相机陷阱所获取的动物出现数据为野生动物种群提供了极其重要的定量信息.本文从相机陷阱工作原理出发,主要阐述了目前在种群生态学中较为成熟的两类针对具有或不具有天然个体标志物种的模型原理及应用: 1)种群密度和种群数量估计; 2)空间占据率估计.论文特别关注了模型发展的逻辑过程、依赖的假定、使用范围、仍然存在的问题以及未来发展方向.最后, 本文综合分析了相机陷阱在种群参数估计应用中还需注意的问题, 以及其在种群动态和生物多样性研究等方面的发展潜力.