Modern pollen assemblages from human-influenced vegetation in northwestern China and their relationship with vegetation and climate

Modern pollen spectra can improve the interpretation of fossil pollen records used to reconstruct past vegetation, climate and human impacts. It is important, therefore, to carefully examine the relationships between modern pollen spectra, vegetation, climate and human activity. Here, we present the results of an analysis of the pollen spectra of 143 surface pollen samples from farmland, wasteland, desert, steppe/meadow, forest and river valley along a transect from Lanzhou to Urumqi, in northwestern China. The modern pollen assemblages are mainly composed of Amaranthaceae, Artemisia, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Ephedra and Nitraria. The results indicate that in general the surface pollen assemblages of different vegetation types reliably represent the modern vegetation in terms of the composition of the main taxa and the dominant types. Farmland is dominated by cereal-type (≥?15%) and Amaranthaceae (≥?20%), while the pollen assemblages of wasteland (i.e. the vegetation immediately surrounding farmland) are mainly composed of Amaranthaceae (≥?25%), Artemisia (≥?20%), Poaceae (≥?10%), Asteraceae (≥?5%) and Cyperaceae (≥?5%). Amaranthaceae (≥?45%) and Ephedra (≥?10%) are the most important taxa in desert, and Cyperaceae (≥?35%) and Thalictrum (≥?2%) are the dominant pollen types in steppe/meadow. Forest and river valley samples are characterized by high frequencies of Picea (≥?10%) and Cyperaceae (≥?20%). Both constrained and partial canonical ordination techniques (RDA and partial RDA) of the main pollen types and environmental variables show that the modern pollen spectra are primarily controlled by mean annual precipitation (MAP). Cyperaceae, Thalictrum and Brassicaceae are positively correlated with MAP and negatively correlated with mean July temperature (T_July), while the representation of certain other types, such as Amaranthaceae, Ephedra and Nitraria, is negatively correlated with MAP and positively correlated with T_July. The Human Influence Index (HII) is significantly correlated with cereal-type pollen, and it can also differentiate human-influenced and natural vegetation. Our results provide a basis for improving the interpretation of fossil pollen records from arid northwestern China and similar regions.     

Spatial patterns of surface soil properties and vegetation in a Mediterranean semi-arid steppe

In arid and semi-arid areas with sparse vegetation cover, the spatial pattern of surface soil properties affects water and nutrient flows, and is a question of considerable interest for understanding degradation processes and establishing adequate management measures. In this study, we investigate the spatial distribution of vegetation and surface soil properties (biological crusts, physical crusts, mosses, rock fragments, earthworm casts, fine root accumulation and below-ground stones) in a semi-arid Stipa tenacissima L. steppe in SE Spain. We applied the combination of spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE) and geostatistics to assess the spatial pattern of soil properties and vegetation, and correlation analyses to explore how these patterns were related. SADIE analysis detected significant clumped patterns in the spatial distribution of vegetation, mosses, fine root accumulation and below-ground stone content. Contoured SADIE index of clustering maps suggested the presence of patchiness in the distribution of earthworm casts, fine roots, below-ground stone content, mosses and biological crusts. Correlation analyses suggested that spatial pattern of some soil properties such as biological crusts, moss cover, surface rock fragments, physical crusts and fine roots were significantly related with above-ground plant distribution. We discuss the spatial arrangement of surface soil properties and suggest mechanistic explanations for the observed spatial patterns and relationships.     

Associations between vegetation patterns and soil texture in the shortgrass steppe

A recent conceptual model of controls on vegetation structure in semiarid regions includes the hypothesis that the balance between the dominance of woody and herbaceous species is partly controlled by soil texture. The model predicts that the dominance of woody plants is associated with coarse textured soils, and that ecotones between woody and herbaceous plant functional types are associated with soil textural changes. We analyzed vegetation and soil data (from US Soil Conservation Service maps) for an area of shortgrass steppe in Northern Weld County, Colorado, in a canonical correlation procedure to test the hypothesis at a regional scale. In support of the model, we found significant correlations between (a) a canonical vegetation variable correlated with C₃ grass biomass and shrub biomass, and a canonical soil variable correlated with sandy topsoils, and (b) a canonical vegetation variable correlated with succulent biomass, and a canonical soil variable correlated with clay soils. Relatively sharp transitions between shrub- and grass-dominated vegetation types occur in a number of areas in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming, and we selected four sites to test the above hypothesis at a local scale. We gathered data on vegetation cover and soil texture from transects (50 m long) positioned across the transition zones from grassland to shrubland. We conducted a further canonical correlation analysis of the vegetation and soil data to test for the relationships between vegetation structure and soil texture, and a performed regression analyses on individual site data to describe site-specific relationships between vegetation and soil texture variables. Vegetation structure along the transects, at the level of plant functional types, was similar at all four sites. The transition from grassland to shrubland encompassed a change from a C₄ grass/half-shrub complex to a shrub/C₃ grass/succulent complex. At two of the sites these transitions were associated with a change to coarser-textured soils in the shrubland zone. Within the context of the shortgrass steppe, our overall findings support the predictions of the conceptual at a regional scale, but indicate that soil texture is only one factor that can influence vegetation structure at the local scale.     

Patterns of soil and plant nitrogen isotope composition and their relationships with climate factors in Xilingol League,Inner Mongolia,China

Background: Plant and soil nitrogen stable isotope (δ¹⁵N) can integrate several fundamental biogeochemical processes in ecosystem nitrogen dynamics, and reflect characteristics of ecosystem nitrogen cycling.

Aims: We investigated how climate change influenced plant-soil nitrogen cycling by relating soil δ¹⁵N, plant δ¹⁵N and Δδ¹⁵N (difference between soil and plant δ¹⁵N) with climatic factors.

Methods: Field investigation was conducted in temperate grasslands in Inner Mongolia during August 2015. Plant δ¹⁵N, soil δ¹⁵N and Δδ¹⁵N were determined, and their relationships with climatic factors were examined by simple regression analyses and general linear models.

Results: Soil δ¹⁵N was significantly higher than plant δ¹⁵N, and there was a positive linear correlation between them. Soil and plant δ¹⁵N were negatively related with mean annual precipitation (MAP) and positively with mean annual temperature (MAT); conversely, Δδ¹⁵N was positively related with MAP and negatively with MAT.

Conclusion: Soil δ¹⁵N was dominantly controlled by MAT, while it was MAP for plant δ¹⁵N. Climate factors influenced plant δ¹⁵N not only through their effects on soil nitrogen dynamics but also strategies of plant nitrogen acquisition. Thus, compared with plant δ¹⁵N, soil δ¹⁵N can more accurately reflect soil nitrogen dynamics, while plant δ¹⁵N may integrate soil nitrogen dynamics and plant nitrogen acquisition.     

不同植被被覆下温性草原土壤养分分异特征

以青海湖区4种不同植被被覆下温性草原为对象,研究在自然及放牧因素影响下土壤异质性分布格局.结果表明:速效养分(速效氮、速效磷、速效钾)具有明显的分层特征,表层土壤含量最高,随土层加深含量逐渐降低.紫花针茅退化样地各层土壤速效养分含量普遍低于其他3个样地,恢复时间较长的样地(早熟禾样地)和有外来物质输入的样地(赖草样地)含量较高.全量养分表现不同,全氮含量表现出分层现象,退化和恢复时间短样地(紫花针茅退化样地、垂穗披碱草样地)表层(0～10 cm)和第二层(10～20 cm)全氮含量高,下层含量迅速降低;早熟禾样地和赖草样地各层全氮含量都较高;全磷含量随土层降低没有出现显著差异(P＞0.05),紫花针茅退化样地0～40 cm土层全磷含量都显著低于其他样地(P＜0.05),其全钾和有机质含量也普遍低于其他样地;有机质与全量养分、速效养分均呈现极显著相关(P＜0.01).随土层加深土壤容重增高,退化使土壤pH值升高.退化温性草原在恢复6a后土壤基本得到恢复,人类扰动和自然因素都影响到土壤养分状况.     

The relationship between vegetation and pollen deposition in soil and in biological traps

The patterns of pollen deposition in the upper layers of the soil and in biological traps (mosses and lichens) in relation to the widespread and well known vegetational types of the Alps is investigated. The communities studied are beach woods, pine woods (Pinus cembra, P. sylveslris) and alpine pastures. Quantitative correlations between the pollen spectra and the vegetation have been calculated and over, under and equi-represented species delimited. Since representativity differs, in some cases, from that recorded in the literature it is suggested that it would be useful to continue the study in order to improve our understanding of actual pollen deposition and, as a consequence, of the interpretation of fossil pollen data.     

Quantitative effects of wind erosion on the soil texture and soil nutrients under different vegetation coverage in a semiarid steppe of northern China

Many studies reported the influence of wind erosion on soil degradation and the effect of vegetation coverage on preventing wind erosion. However, fewer studies have quantitatively measured the grassland soil particle size fractions and nutrients’ loss caused by wind erosion under different vegetation coverage. Aims: We conducted a field experiments to (1) to explore the effect of vegetation coverage on soil wind erosion; (2) examine quantitatively the effects of wind erosion on soil texture, and determine the most erodible particles fraction of soil; (3) to examine quantitatively the soil carbon, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus loss caused by wind erosion under different vegetation coverage. Methods: Six vegetation coverage treatments (0 %, 15 %, 35 %, 55 %, 75 % and 95 %) were constructed. To be able to monitor wind erosion status under more diverse weather conditions, three consecutive repeat experiments under different weather condition were conducted. Results: The results show that all the residue soil samples after wind erosion became coarser than that of original soil samples. The degree of change for the soil particle size distribution before and after wind erosion gradually increased with the less of vegetation coverage. The critical particle size for distinguishing the original soil sample and the residue soil after wind erosion occurred in the range of 125 μm and 210 μm depending on the vegetation cover. The fractions below or above the critical particle size are either easy to deplete or favoured by wind erosion, respectively. The most reduction occurs between 50 and 90 μm depending on the different weather condition and vegetation coverage. Due to the disproportionately greater amounts of nutrients in the fine soil particles, the preferential depletion of fine particles directly lead to a preferentially significant depletion of organic carbon and nutrients. The organic carbon and nutrient contents in the residue soil after erosion decreased significantly compared to that in the original soil. The soil nutrient loss ratio decrease significantly with the increase of vegetation coverage. Conclusions: Wind erosion is an important factor to affect the evolution of soil texture and soil nutrient. Vegetation coverage has a major impact on both preventing wind erosion and decreasing loss ratio of fine particles and nutrients. If we want to effectively protect the fine particles and nutrients, the vegetation cover should be maintained at least above 35 %.     

The relationships between the surface arboreal pollen and the plants of the vegetation in China

This paper attempts to test the relationships between the surface arboreal pollen and the plants across the entire vegetation of China. Twelve genera from major arboreal plants are selected from 680 pollen taxa in a total of 803 surface pollen assemblages for this excise. The pollen data are quantitatively compared with the gridded vegetation map on spatial similarity, direction and distance of pollen dispersal, and pollen accuracy for indicating the plant distribution density.The results show that the distributions of the pollen taxa can reflect the major patterns of the plants. Abies, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Quercus and Betula exhibit high spatial similarities between pollen and source plants. The accuracy for Tsuga, Platycarya, Fagus and Cyclobalanopsis is relatively low, probably due to the low pollen productivities and the absence of samples from southern China. In the disagreement part of the pollen-plant accuracy percentage, the pollen taxa Larix, Platycarya, Fagus and Cyclobalanopsis have high proportions in underestimating plants, likely a “convergent-type” in the pollen deposition; while pollen Tsuga, Quercus, Pinus, Betula and Ulmus have high proportions in overestimating plants, likely a “divergent-type” in the pollen dispersal.Pollen dispersal estimates suggest that southward transportation of the 12 pollen taxa is dominant, and the transport distance can be up to ca. 1000 km. This is mainly caused by several months of persistent north winds from the winter monsoon, particularly in spring seasons in eastern China. The second highest pollen dispersal direction is eastward, which occurs mainly in the boreal or sub-boreal plants of Larix, Abies, Picea, Betula and Acer and is likely influenced by the Westerlies in the mid-latitudes of China. Summer-green and evergreen Platycarya, Fagus and Cyclobalanopsis are mainly dispersed to the north, reflecting the influence of the Asian summer monsoon in eastern and southern China. Results of spatial differentiation analysis using accuracy weighting suggest that the low percentage portion (1-10%) in pollen of Abies, Picea, Betula and Quercus and high percentage portion (>40%) in pollen Pinus are acceptable for the plant representatives.These results, based upon the analyses of surface pollen and modern vegetation types of China, can provide important information for testing the various methods for reconstructing and modelling the environmental or climatic parameters during the recent geological past from palaeovegetation data.     

Forest soil fertility: the base of relationships between soil and vegetation

To understand the relationships between soils and vegetation in forest ecosystems, it is necessary to establish the spatial levels where they are implemented and to determine parameters characterizing the relationships. The key step in the development of the hierarchy of the spatial levels is the establishment of the elementary unit of the soil-vegetation cover. Such a unit, called tessera, is substantiated. Studies conducted in boreal forests have demonstrated a close association between the vegetation and soil components of tesserae. It can be quantitatively described in terms of informative fertility parameters: pH; C: N ratio; contents of nutrients, such as Ca and Mn; etc. Thus, data on the relationships between soil and vegetation determined in tesserae can be summarized at higher spatial levels of the forest cover: parcel, biotope, etc.     

Variation in Greek phrygana vegetation in relation to soil and climate

Abstract. Variation in species composition and community structure in nine Greek phrygana (dwarf-shrub) sites was related to soil and climate variables by using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. The distribution of the Greek phrygana communities appeared to be related to soil rather than to climate. It is postulated that human action has eliminated the original variability related to climate factors in western Greek ecosystems; as a result, phrygana communities in this part of Greece are the result of human impact.     

Plant community characteristics and their relationships with soil properties in a karst region of southwest China

In this study, we analyzed plant community characteristics and the relationship between plant and soil properties based on forest successional stages in depressions between karst hills. The secondary forests showed the maximum number of species, genera, and families with important values >5 and the highest species diversity, and primary forest was the optimal community structure. The arboreal layer played a dominant role in determining fragile karst ecosystem status, followed by shrubs, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃. A close relationship existed between species diversity and soil organic C, total N, total P, Fe₂O₃, MnO, microbial biomass C, and microbial biomass P. Plant characteristics could be explained by the soil nutrient factors (21.6%), soil microbes (17.1%), soil mineral components (10.2%), and interactions among these variables (29.3%).     

Climate and vegetation in China II. Distribution of main vegetation types and thermal climate

The authors examined relationships between Kira's warmth index (WI) and four other important thermal indices: the sums of daily mean temperatures above 5°C and 10°C, Thornthwaite's potential evapotranspiration (PE) and Holdridge's annual biotemperature. The thermal records of 671 meteorological stations evenly located all over China were used to make these comparisons. Close correlations were found within the four relationships, and accordingly WI was used to analyse the thermal distributions of the main vegetation types. Vegetation types around the 671 stations were read from a vegetation map with a scale of 1/4000000. Vegetation types at 269 stations corresponded to the natural or seminatural vegetation, and 29 vegetation types were distinguished by arranging the 269 data into the same or similar types. The geographical distribution of these 29 types and the corresponding main climatic features were described. The relations between WI and distribution of these vegetation types were discussed in detail. As a result, WI values (°C month) corresponding to the vegetation zones could be summarized as follows: (1) arctic or alpine vegetation zone: 0–15; (2) boreal or subalpine vegetation zone: 15-(50–55); (3) cool-temperate vegetation zone: (50–55)–(80–90); (4) warm-temperate vegetation zone: (80–90)–(170–180). These values almost coincided with Kira's values. Chinese postgraduate student in Japan sent by the Chinese Government.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with vegetation and soil parameters under rest grazing management in a desert steppe ecosystem

The impact of rest grazing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the interactions of AMF with vegetation and soil parameters under rest grazing condition were investigated between spring and late summer in a desert steppe ecosystem with different grazing managements (rest grazing with different lengths of resting period, banned or continuous grazing) in Inner Mongolia, China. AMF diversity and colonization, vegetation biomass, soil properties and soil phosphatase activity were examined. In rest grazing areas of 60 days, AMF spore number and diversity index at a 0–10 cm soil depth as well as vesicular and hyphal colonization rates were higher compared with other grazing treatments. In addition, soil organic matter and total N contents were highest and soil alkaline phosphatase was most active under 60-day rest grazing. In August and September, these areas also had the highest amount of aboveground vegetation. The results indicated that resting grazing for an appropriate period of time in spring has a positive effect on AMF sporulation, colonization and diversity, and that under rest grazing conditions, AMF parameters are positively correlated with some soil characteristics.     

The influence of soil texture on the soil water dynamics and vegetation structure of a shortgrass steppe ecosystem

We analyzed soil water data from three sites with different soil textures in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado, USA. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of plant functional types and the effect of soil texture on soil water availability. Soil water availability was greatest in the upper soil layers at all three sites, but the loamy sand site had significantly greater soil water availability than the sandy clay loam and sandy clay sites in wetter years at depths below 60 cm. Calculations of proportional water availability by layer using both field data and fifty-year soil water model simulations, showed that the sandy clay loam and sandy clay soils on average had greater water availability in layers 30 cm and above, but that the loamy sand had the greatest water availability in layers beneath this, particularly at 105 cm. This observation can be linked to the occurrence of a fine textured subsoil at this site. The textural pattern in the loamy sand profile effectively creates two water resources: a shallow pool accessible to all plants; and a deep pool accessible only to deep-rooted plants. This is offered as an explanation for the co-dominance of the two main plant functional types at the loamy sand site. At the other two sites, shallow-rooted shortgrass vegetation dominated, being more consistent with the general pattern for the area. Thus the patterns of vegetation structure at the three sites were consistent with the hypothesis. Aboveground net primary production data for the three sites, along with transpiration estimates from the model simulations, indicated that the additional water availability in the coarse textured soil was associated with higher overall plant productivity.Nomenclature: Taxonomic nomenclature follows R. L. McGregor & T. M. Barkley (1986) Flora of the Great Plains. Great Plains Flora Association. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.     

Spatial and temporal variations of assemblages in a Mediterranean coralligenous reef and relationships with surface orientation

The structure, distribution, and temporal changes of epibenthic assemblages of a Mediterranean coralligenous reef were investigated using a multifactorial sampling design. The distribution of taxa on vertical walls and down-facing surfaces of overhangs and crevices was analysed at ten sites along 2 km of rocky reefs, south of Livorno (Ligurian Sea, Italy). The temporal variations were analysed between two periods (1995–1996 and 1997–1998) and among four sampling times within each period. Most of the space was dominated by prostrate seaweeds (including Peyssonnelia rubra, P. rosa-marina, and Mesophyllum lichenoides), turf-forming seaweeds, and the red coral Corallium rubrum. The cover of a variety of other invertebrates, mainly sponges and bryozoans, was less than 2%. All taxa were found on both vertical and down-facing surfaces. However, seaweeds dominated the vertical surfaces (mean cover >97%), while C. rubrum and other invertebrates dominated down-facing surfaces (mean density of C. rubrum >16 colonies dm⁻²). Although there was some fluctuation in the abundance of taxa, no obvious patterns were observed. These results support the model of limited temporal variability in Mediterranean coralligenous reefs, possibly related to the slow growth rates of the most abundant taxa and the reduced seasonality of physical conditions.     

Zoosporic true fungi and heterotrophic straminipiles assemblages from soil of Brazilian Cerrado areas

The influence of seasonal fluctuations and environmental factors on the occurrence and distribution of zoosporic true fungi and heterotrophic straminipiles in terrestrial ecosystems is poorly understood. This contribution analyses the species composition, frequency, abundance and diversity of zoosporic true fungi and heterotrophic straminipiles assemblages from two areas of Cerrado in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Samples of soil were collected at four dates during the rainy and dry seasons. Twenty-one abiotic factors were measured. The assemblages showed a high diversity and evenness and were represented by 30 taxa of Chytridiomycota and Oomycota. Some abiotic factors appeared to have influenced the patterns of distribution and occurrence of the taxa in different areas and/or seasons. Even so, the biotic factors (richness, diversity indices and evenness) and the Sorensen index showed high similarity between the assemblages.     

Pollen and phytoliths from fired ancient potsherds as potential indicators for deciphering past vegetation and climate in Turpan, Xinjiang, NW China

It is demonstrated that palynomorphs can occur in fired ancient potsherds when the firing temperature was under 350°C. Pollen and phytoliths recovered from incompletely fired and fully fired potsherds (ca. 2700 yrs BP) from the Yanghai Tombs, Turpan, Xinjiang, NW China can be used as potential indicators for reconstructing past vegetation and corresponding climate in the area. The results show a higher rate of recovery of pollen and phytoliths from incompletely fired potsherds than from fully fired ones. Charred phytoliths recovered from both fully fired and incompletely fired potsherds prove that degree and condition of firing result in a permanent change in phytolith color. The palynological data, together with previous data of macrobotanical remains from the Yanghai Tombs, suggest that temperate vegetation and arid climatic conditions dominated in the area ca. 2700 yrs BP.     

Early Miocene vegetation and climate in Weichang District, North China

The Early Miocene palynological assemblage of Guangfayong (GFY) in the Weichang District, Hebei Province, China has been studied. It consists of 48 palynomorphs belonging to 39 families, with pollen and spores belonging to angiosperms (28.9%), gymnosperms (59.9%), ferns (10.8%) and other elements (0.5%). Based on the palynological assemblages of GFY and Wuluogong (WLG), another locality in the Weichang District, the Early Miocene vegetation of the Weichang District, was characterized by a mixed temperate forest of conifers (e.g. Pinus, Picea, Tsuga) and broad-leaved trees (e.g. Betula, Alnus), with some subtropical plants (e.g. Carya). The palaeoclimatic parameters of Guangfayong were obtained by applying the Coexistence Approach: the mean annual temperature from 7.8 to 14.9 °C, the difference of temperature between the coldest and warmest months from 14.2 to 23 °C, the mean temperature of the coldest month from − 3 to 5.9 °C, the mean temperature of the warmest month from 23.5 to 25.4 °C, the mean annual precipitation from 658.7 to 1389.4 mm, the minimum monthly precipitation from 7.6 to 16.4 mm, and the maximum monthly precipitation from 161.4 to 205.9 mm. It suggests a warm temperate to subtropical climate in Weichang District, similar to that of present-day Zhaojue City, Sichuan Province in the Yangtze River Valley. When the palaeoclimatic parameters were compared with those of Middle Miocene Shanwang Basin, it would seem that the temperature and precipitation were a little higher in the Middle Miocene of eastern China. However, if the latitudinal temperature gradient at that time is considered, the median temperature values of GFY of Early Miocene and Shanwang of Mid-Miocene were similar.     

Relationships between vegetation and climate on the Loess Plateau in China

The Loess Plateau is one of the most environmentally sensitive regions in China. This study addresses the relationships between vegetation and climate of this area quantitatively at a large-scale, in order to determine the factors that control vegetation distribution. The Loess Plateau, located at 101°01′–155°10′ E and 34°02′–40°40′ N, covers an area of 52 million hectares. Vegetation data were collected from the vegetation map (1:500,000) and the Landsat Thematic Mapper scenes of the Loess Plateau. The Loess Plateau was divided into small districts of 30′ latitude by 30′ longitude on the vegetation map. In each district, areas with different vegetation were measured and used as vegetation data. The climatic data were average values of county meteorological records in each district in the past 25 years. GIS, TWINSPAN and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were employed for analysis. 257 small districts were clustered into 7 groups using TWINSPAN, representing 7 vegetation regions or subregions. The first three CCA axes had significant correlations with climate. The first CCA axis represented the variation of vegetation and climate along the latitude gradient, while the second CCA axis the variation along the longitude gradient. The distribution pattern of 171 vegetation formations on the CCA plot is identical to that of vegetation regions (districts). The spatial distribution of vegetation is closely related to climate variables on the Loess Plateau. Water variables and temperature are important in both latitude and longitude gradients, while the sunshine hours, accumulated temperature and wind speed are more important than water variables and temperature in longitude gradients.