Study on the effects of different levels of grazing and exclosure on vegetation and soil properties in semi-arid rangelands of Iran

Livestock grazing is one of the main factors of vegetation and soil degradation in arid and semi-arid rangelands of Iran and causes changes in diversity, vegetation, litter and soil characteristics. Therefore, this study has been conducted aimed to examine the effects of exclosure and livestock grazing on vegetation and soil. For this purpose, two grazing areas of medium and high grazing intensity and two exclosure areas (Non-grazing livestock) with duration of 8 and 11 years were selected for sampling. Then, we identified plant species, percentage of coverage of each species, measurement of diversity indices, species similarity and soil chemical properties including electrical conductivity (mho), acidity, organic matter(%), organic carbon (%), nitrogen (%), phosphorus (mg/L) and bulk density (gr/cm³) in each area and they were compared using variance analysis. The results showed that exclosure significantly at 5% level reduced organic matter percentage, electrical conductivity and organic carbon percentage, but it caused a significant increase in soil bulk density at 1% level. Similarity of plant species due to the reduction of livestock grazing intensity and increasing exclosure duration. The results also indicate Livestock grazing increased Coverage of plant family such as Poaceae, Zygophyllacea in the area due to the increase of plant species such as Peganum harmala and Poa bulbosa (non-pleasant species of class III). Based on the results, despite increasing the diversity of plant species in the area over time, increasing diversity does not increase dominant species of the area, as well as companion species increased in the composition of vegetation. It concluded that exclusion has a significant effect on vegetation improvement, vegetation cover percentage, diversity, palatability and litter percentage in the region.     

Carbon sequestration and soil restoration potential of grazing lands under exclosure management in a semi‐arid environment of northern Ethiopia

Exclosures are used to regenerate native vegetation as a way to reduce soil erosion, increase rain water infiltration and provide fodder and woody biomass in degraded grazing lands. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of grazing exclosure on carbon sequestration and soil nutrients under 5 and 10 years of grazing exclosures and freely grazed areas in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Carbon stocks and soil nutrients increased with increasing grazing exclusion. However, open grazing lands and 5 years of grazing exclosure did not differ in above‐ and belowground carbon stocks. Moreover, 10 years of grazing exclosure had a higher (p < 0.01) grass, herb and litter carbon stocks compared to 5 years exclosure and open grazing lands. The total carbon stock was higher for 10 years exclosure (75.65 t C ha^‐1) than the 5 years exclosure (55.06 t C ha^‐1) and in open grazing areas (51.98 t C ha^‐1). Grazing lands closed for 10 years had a higher SOC, organic matter, total N, available P, and exchangeable K + and Na + compared to 5 year's exclosure and open grazing lands. Therefore, establishment of grazing exclosures had a positive effect in restoring degraded grazing lands, thus improving carbon sequestration potentials and soil nutrients.     

Assessing the Use of Functional Diversity as a Measure of Ecological Resilience in Arid Rangelands

It is becoming more apparent that species richness alone many not be sufficient to fully understand ecosystem resilience but that functional diversity (diversity of species having similar effects on an ecosystem process) may be more relevant. In particular, response diversity (diversity of species that respond differently to disturbance) within functional groups (FG) is suggested to be critical for resilience. We assess for the first time the use of response diversity as a measure of resilience in an empirical study. Our experimental design consisted of sites with three disturbance intensities during a grazing exclosure period and the same sites, 1 year later, after grazing. Plant FGs were identified based on effect traits related to nutrient cycling and soil retention, and species richness within groups was assessed during exclosure and after grazing. To assess if response diversity could predict loss of species richness (resilience analysis), response diversity was calculated only during the exclosure period, based on traits related to grazing tolerance. We also assessed the contribution of richness to response diversity during exclosure (redundancy analysis). Response diversity was significantly and highly correlated with species richness within FGs during disturbance. That is, FGs with the lowest response diversity were the most affected, disappearing when disturbance appeared. Richness within FGs during exclosure was not significantly correlated with response diversity, showing that higher richness does not ensure resilience. We conclude that response diversity can be used to predict which FGs are more resilient, and hence, less vulnerable to future disturbance.     

Restoration of native vegetation following exclosure establishment on communal grazing lands in Tigray,Ethiopia

Questions: Is plant species richness, diversity and above‐ground standing biomass enhanced after establishing exclosures on communal grazing lands? What factors influence the effectiveness of exclosures to restore degraded native vegetation in Tigray, Ethiopia? Location: Northern Ethiopia. Methods: We used a space‐for‐time substitution approach to detect changes in plant species richness, diversity and above‐ground standing biomass after conversion of communal grazing lands to exclosures. We selected replicated (n=3) 5‐, 10‐, 15‐ and 20‐year‐old exclosures and paired each exclosure with an adjacent communal grazing land to ensure that soil and terrain conditions were as similar as possible among each pair. Results: All exclosures displayed higher plant species richness, diversity and biomass than the communal grazing lands. Differences in plant species richness and biomass between an exclosure age and adjacent communal grazing land were higher in oldest than in youngest exclosures. In exclosures, much of the variability in plant species composition and biomass was explained by a combination of edaphic (total nitrogen, phosphorus, texture and soil pH) and site (precipitation and altitude) variables (R²=0.72–0.82). Edaphic and site variables also explained much of the variability in plant species composition in communal grazing lands (R²=0.76–0.82). Our study shows that all exclosures are at an early stage of succession. The increase in economically important indigenous shrub and tree species with exclosure age suggests that, with time, a valuable afromontane forest may develop. Conclusions: Establishment of exclosures on communal grazing lands is a viable option to restore degraded native vegetation. However, before expanding exclosures, the ecological consequences of additional exclosures should be investigated as further expansion of exclosures could increase grazing pressure on remaining grazing areas. Furthermore, consideration of edaphic and site variables will help optimize selection of areas for establishment of exclosures and enhance natural regeneration in exclosures in the future.     

Seed burial depth,seedling emergence,and height as affected by animal trampling in marl soils

Depending on the plant species, animal trampling significantly affects vegetation by affecting seed burial in marl soil (MS). Soil seed bank dynamics (SSBDs) and seedling characteristics were investigated under light, moderate, and heavy grazing intensities in a MS and non-marl soil (NMS). Considering the seed characteristics and appendages, SSBDs and seedling characteristics significantly changed under grazing intensities (p?<?0.05) where the greatest change was observed in MS (more than NMS). Seed size and seed sphericity index showed a significant positive relationship with seed burial depth under heavy grazing, while the seed length and width and the presence of appendages had the strongest negative correlation with seed burial under exclosure/light grazing (p?<?0.05). Depth of 4–6 cm had the most seed numbers under heavy grazing. Moreover, heavy grazing reduced the diversity index in SSB by 34%, while the diversity index in vegetation has decreased by 41% compared to control.

     

不同干扰对黄土区典型草原物种多样性和生物量的影响

对黄土区典型草原进行封育+施肥(EF)、封育+火烧(EB)、封育(E)和放牧(G)处理,实地调查分析群落盖度、高度、密度、地上现存量和物种多样性,以研究不同干扰对黄土区典型草原群落物种多样性和生物量的影响.结果表明:在4种干扰类型中,施肥+封育草地群落盖度和地上生物量最高,且优势度指数最高,这与禾本科草占优势地位有关,群落均匀度指数和多样性指数最低,符合“生态位理论”;放牧地群落高度、盖度、密度和地上现存量最低,群落丰富度指数和多样性指数最高,支持“中度干扰理论”;封育地密度和均匀度指数最高;具体表现为:4种干扰类型地上生物量的变化趋势为封育+施肥＞封育+火烧＞封育＞放牧;说明长时间的封育对草地是一种严重干扰.群落丰富度指数(R和Ma)的排列顺序为放牧＞封育+施肥＞封育+火烧＞封育,群落物种多样性指数(H'和D)的排列顺序为放牧＞封育＞封育+火烧＞封育+施肥,优势度指数与多样性指数相反,群落均匀度指数(Jsw和Ea)的排列顺序为封育＞放牧＞封育+火烧＞封育+施肥.不同干扰样地群落生产力与Shannon-Wiener和Simpson 多样性指数间呈负相关关系,这个结论可以用地上/地下竞争的相互作用来解释.     

Comparison of aboveground vegetation and soil seed bank composition at sites of different grazing intensity around a savanna-woodland watering point in West Africa

Grazing removes a plant’s aboveground vegetative and reproductive tissues and can modify the soil seed bank, potentially impacting the restoration of preferred species. Knowledge about aboveground vegetation and species composition of soil seed bank and the processes that contribute to vegetation recovery on and surrounding watering points subjected to grazing is lacking. Successful restoration strategies hinge on addressing these knowledge gaps. We assessed the effects of livestock grazing on aboveground vegetation and soil seed bank characteristics along a river bank and surrounding areas subject to different grazing intensities and draw implications for restoration. Plots (50?×?50 m) were established along five transects representing differing levels of grazing intensity. Soil samples were taken from three layers within each plot to determine soil properties and species composition of soil seed bank using the seedling emergence method. Heavy grazing resulted in the disappearance of perennial grasses, a reduction in species diversity and a decrease in soil nutrients with increased soil depth. Overall, the similarity between the extant aboveground vegetation and flora within the soil seed bank was low. The soil seed bank was dominated by herbaceous species and two woody species, suggesting that many woody species are not accumulating in the soil. With increasing soil depth, the seed density and richness declined. Canonical correspondence analyses (CCAs) showed that emerged seedlings from the soil seed bank were significantly influenced by soil carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, total potassium and soil cation exchange capacity. This finding suggests that current grazing practices have a negative impact on the vegetation surrounding watering points; hence there is a need for improved grazing management strategies and vegetation restoration in these areas. The soil seed bank alone cannot restore degraded river banks; active transfer of propagules from adjacent undisturbed forest areas is essential.     

Year-round cattle and horse grazing supports the restoration of abandoned,dry sandy grassland and heathland communities by supressing Calamagrostis epigejos and enhancing species richness

The spread of competitive grasses, changes in species composition and vegetation structure are direct consequences of grassland and heathland abandonment. As an alternative to more costly management measures such as traditional pastoralism, year-round low-intensity grazing with large herbivores is increasingly used to restore and maintain semi-open habitats. However, the suitability of this grazing regime has not yet been investigated for long-abandoned, highly degraded but nutrient-poor sandy grassland and heathland communities. In particular, it is unclear if year-round grazing is suitable for preventing the further spread of highly competitive grasses such as Calamagrostis epigejos while simultaneously maintaining or improving characteristic species richness and vegetation structure. Hence, we conducted a comprehensive field study on two spatial scales (plot-level: 25 m², macroplot-level: 1 ha) to analyse the impacts of year-round low-intensity cattle and horse grazing on the development of the highly competitive grass Calamagrostis epigejos, as well as the vegetation structure and plant species richness of long-abandoned but nutrient-poor dry sandy grassland and heathland communities, their mosaics and Calamagrostis stands within an 800 ha heathland between 2008 and 2015. Finally, we assessed the local conservation status of the habitat types after seven years of grazing in comparison to long-abandoned sites.Grazing successfully reduced the coverage of Calamagrostis epigejos, whereby Calamagrostis stands developed towards species-rich sandy grasslands after seven years of grazing. In addition, the quality of the vegetation structure was improved by enhancing the proportion of bare soil, while litter and grass cover, litter thickness and height of the field layer as well as the coverage of ruderal indicators were significantly reduced on grazed sites in comparison to ungrazed sites in 2015. Moreover, we found an overall positive grazing effect on species richness: Total species number, number of target species as well as subordinated target species significantly increased within the vegetation types over time.Thus, year-round low-intensity cattle and horse grazing is a suitable management tool for restoring, maintaining and even improving long-abandoned, nutrient-poor sandy grassland and heathland communities, and thus to enhance the local conservation status of the habitat types. However, if there is a high initial cover of woody species (e.g. shrubs, tree rejuvenation), then an extensive shrub and tree clearance will be necessary, with manual shrub cutting being crucial to reduce the heavy regrowth of the woody species. In addition, a one-time mowing should be implemented in highly degraded heaths to facilitate the vegetative rejuvenation of degenerate stands of Calluna vulgaris, thus improving its attractiveness for the grazing animals.     

Effect of Exclosure and Topography on Rehabilitation of Overgrazed Shrub-Steppe in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of grazing exclosures on the recovery and rehabilitation of overgrazed steppe vegetation on varying slope aspects in the Loess Plateau of northwest China. The annual precipitation in the area studied was 400–480 mm. Soil samples were taken on nine slopes in the five-year exclosure and on five slopes outside the exclosure after a vegetation survey; they were then analyzed chemically. Mean number of species recorded per 0.25 m² was lower on the south-facing slope than all other slopes. The reverse trend was observed for aerial biomass. Species diversity estimated by information content was higher in the grazing zone than in a 3200-ha protected zone within an exclosure. From species ordination by principal component analysis, species with lower coverage in the grazing zone were Poa sphondylodes, Roegneria purpurascens, Hierochloe odorata, and Potentilla bifurca, which are all recognized as indicator species for rehabilitation efforts. In the soil surface layer, calcium contents were low, and the total contents of carbon and nitrogen were high on the north-facing slope in the exclosure. The protection by exclosure of overgrazed steppe was seen to be effective because the accumulation of soil organic matter increased and water balance improved.     

Manipulation of vegetation communities on the Abu Dhabi rangelands. I. The effects of irrigation and release from longterm grazing

The effect on vegetation communities of release from grazing by camels and goats has been investigated in the Baynunah region of Abu Dhabi emirate, in The United Arab Emirates, by the study of an exclosure established 11 years previously. Also the effect of sprinkle irrigation (in the absence of grazing) on the rangeland vegetation was investigated. Perennial species richness was significantly lower outside the exclosure compared with inside on both sand and gravel substrata. Annual species richness however was not significantly different. Perrenial percentage covers were lower outside the exclosure compared with inside, especially on sand substrata. The perennial grass Stipagrostis plumosa (L) showed the greatest difference in percentage cover in this respect. The species richness of annuals and perennials was not significantly different between irrigated and non-irrigated areas within the exclosure. The perennial percentage cover was much greater on sprinkle irrigated sand and gravel substrata. The perennial which benefited the most was Zygophyllum hamiense, Scweinf. Annual percentage cover was lower in irrigated quadrats. Suggestions are made about the effect of intensive grazing on the vegetation communities at Baynunah and on the effectiveness of irrigation as a tool for increasing the quality of the rangeland for livestock and wildlife.     

Effect of available burrow densities of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) on soil physicochemical property of the bare land and vegetation land in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The available burrow densities of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) regulate the soil physicochemical property in alpine meadow. A field survey was conducted to investigate the effect of available burrow densities of plateau pika on soil physicochemical property of bare land (bare patch produced by burrowing behavior of plateau pika) and vegetation land (land covered with vegetation). This study indicated that the increase in available burrow of plateau pika caused the soil water content at 0–10 cm layer of bare land and that at 10–20 cm of vegetation land to reduce, and caused the soil water content at 10– 20 cm layer of bare land and that at 0–10 cm layer of vegetation land to firstly increase and then decline. In the increasing process of available burrow of plateau pika, the soil silt content firstly increased and then decreased, and soil sand content firstly decreased and then increased. With the increase of available burrow of plateau pika, the soil porosity at 0–10 cm layer of bare land and that at 10–20 cm layer of vegetation land decreased, while the soil porosity at 10–20 cm layer of bare land and that at 0–10 cm of vegetation land firstly increased and then decreased. Soil pH value, soil organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus content firstly increased and then decreased, peaking at 14 available burrows per 625 m², while total soil potassium content did not respond to available burrow densities of plateau pika. This study suggested that the proper available burrows existing in the alpine meadow increased soil permeability, accelerated soil moisture to penetrate deeply, increased the proportion of soil silt, and improved the soil nutrient; however, this beneficial effect was strongly influenced by the available burrow density of plateau pika, implying that plateau pika did not benefit soil structure when its available burrow was over 34 number/625 m².     

Effects of natural vegetative restoration on soil fungal and bacterial communities in bare patches of the southern Taihang Mountains

Understanding the distribution and composition of soil microbes in bare patches is a critical step to improving ecological remediation. The effects of different vegetative restoration types on soil microbes within semi‐arid bare patches remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the distribution of soil fungi and bacteria among different ecological restoration types at the southern Taihang Mountains. Analysis of variance showed that the chemical properties of soil with vegetation cover have higher nutrient quality than those of the exposed soil. The results also suggested that vegetative restoration significantly improved the diversity and the richness of the soil fungal and bacterial communities. Sequencing results showed that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the main soil fungal communities, whereas Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the main soil bacterial communities. There were significant relationships between the contents of moisture, organic matter and organic carbon and the soil fungal/bacterial communities. Venn and network diagrams indicated that the vegetative restoration types largely influenced the soil fungi and weakly influenced the soil bacteria in the bare patches. This study discusses the importance of vegetative restoration in the ecological remediation of bare patches. These findings provide effective references for soil restorative measures, water conservation, and bare‐spot reduction at the southern Taihang Mountains in future.     

Ungulate browsers promote herbaceous layer diversity in logged temperate forests

Ungulates are leading drivers of plant communities worldwide, with impacts linked to animal density, disturbance and vegetation structure, and site productivity. Many ecosystems have more than one ungulate species; however, few studies have specifically examined the combined effects of two or more species on plant communities. We examined the extent to which two ungulate browsers (moose [Alces americanus]) and white‐tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus]) have additive (compounding) or compensatory (opposing) effects on herbaceous layer composition and diversity, 5–6 years after timber harvest in Massachusetts, USA. We established three combinations of ungulates using two types of fenced exclosures – none (full exclosure), deer (partial exclosure), and deer + moose (control) in six replicated blocks. Species composition diverged among browser treatments, and changes were generally additive. Plant assemblages characteristic of closed canopy forests were less abundant and assemblages characteristic of open/disturbed habitats were more abundant in deer + moose plots compared with ungulate excluded areas. Browsing by deer + moose resulted in greater herbaceous species richness at the plot scale (169 m²) and greater woody species richness at the subplot scale (1 m²) than ungulate exclusion and deer alone. Browsing by deer + moose resulted in strong changes to the composition, structure, and diversity of forest herbaceous layers, relative to areas free of ungulates and areas browed by white‐tailed deer alone. Our results provide evidence that moderate browsing in forest openings can promote both herbaceous and woody plant diversity. These results are consistent with the classic grazing‐species richness curve, but have rarely been documented in forests.     

Effects of different fencing regimes on community structure of degraded desert grasslands on Mu Us desert,China

Grazing is one of the major anthropogenic driving factors influencing community structure and ecological function of grasslands. Fencing has been proved to be one of the main measures for rehabilitating degraded grasslands in northwestern China. However, data from combined empirical studies on the effects of different management regimes in desert grasslands are lacking. So we selected long‐term fencing (fenced since 1991), mid‐term fencing and seasonal fencing (fenced since 2002), and adjacent free‐grazing grasslands to investigate vegetation and soil properties on southwest Mu Us desert. Our results showed that fencing increased plant cover, height, aboveground biomass (AGB) of different plant life‐form groups, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Evenness index, Simpson index, total soil nitrogen, total soil phosphorus, and soil organic matter, but decreased plant density, species richness, Richness index, soil bulk density, water content, and pH. However, 22–24 years of long‐term complete fencing might cause redegradation of vegetation and soil nutrients, characterized by the reduction of some vegetation properties, biodiversity, total AGB, and some soil properties. Seasonal fencing with 11–13 year was more beneficial to vegetation restoration than that with completely fencing measures. Our study suggests that appropriate artificial disturbances, such as seasonal fencing (winter grazing and summer fencing), should be used after long‐term fencing in order to maintain grassland productivity and biodiversity. These findings will help to provide theoretical support for vegetation restoration and sustainable management in grassland under grazing prohibition at Mu Us desert.     

Grazing, Environmental Heterogeneity, and Alien Plant Invasions in Temperate Pampa Grasslands

Temperate humid grasslands are known to be particularly vulnerable to invasion by alien plant species when grazed by domestic livestock. The Flooding Pampa grasslands in eastern Argentina represent a well-documented case of a regional flora that has been extensively modified by anthropogenic disturbances and massive invasions over recent centuries. Here, we synthesise evidence from region-wide vegetation surveys and long-term exclosure experiments in the Flooding Pampa to examine the response of exotic and native plant richness to environmental heterogeneity, and to evaluate grazing effects on species composition and diversity at landscape and local community scales. Total plant richness showed a unimodal distribution along a composite stress/fertility gradient ranging several plant community types. On average, more exotic species occurred in intermediate fertility habitats that also contained the highest richness of resident native plants. Exotic plant richness was thus positively correlated with native species richness across a broad range of flood-prone grasslands. The notion that native plant diversity decreases invasibility was supported only for a limited range of species-rich communities in habitats where soil salinity stress and flooding were unimportant. We found that grazing promoted exotic plant invasions and generally enhanced community richness, whereas it reduced the compositional and functional heterogeneity of vegetation at the landscape scale. Hence, grazing effects on plant heterogeneity were scale-dependent. In addition, our results show that environmental fluctuations and physical disturbances such as large floods in the pampas may constrain, rather than encourage, exotic species in grazed grasslands.     

重牧退化草地的植被、土壤及其耦合特征

重牧退化的肃南高山草原和环县典型草原,群落的α多样性,Cody指数描述的β多样性,营养功能群多样性和生活型功能群多样性随牧压下降呈上洚趋势,固N功能群多样性和高山草原Bray-Curtis指数描述的β多样性呈相反变化趋势,2种草地0-40cm土壤全N,速效N,有机质含量和高山草原土壤速效P含量与牧压呈负相关,高山草原土壤全P含量与牧压呈正相关。典型草原土壤全N,速效N和速效P含量以及速效P/全P和C/N比值低于高山草原,但速效N/全N比值和全P含量高于后者,重牧草地土壤要素与群落活根生物量的垂直分布格局之间的灰色关联系数与牧压呈正相关,土壤要素与毒杂草和劣质牧草的关系密切,草地退化不仅是植被与土壤的衰退,也是2个子系统耦合关系的丧失和系统相悖的发展,可用耦合度与相悖度定量,综合分析,环县草原退化较肃南严重。     

典型喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被恢复对土壤养分含量和微生物多样性的影响

以桂西北典型喀斯特峰丛洼地植被恢复过程中草丛、灌丛、次生林、原生林4个植被恢复阶段为研究对象,通过测定优势种的根际与非根际的土壤p H、养分含量及微生物多样性,探讨不同恢复阶段根际土壤养分的富集效应及土壤微生物多样性的变化特征。研究结果表明:(1)4个恢复阶段的根际与非根际土壤养分均呈现显著差异;土壤有效态养分较全量养分对植物根际微小的变化响应更为灵敏;大多数养分表现出明显的富集效应,AP和AK在原生林的富集率明显高于其他恢复阶段;(2)4个恢复阶段细菌Shannon-Wiener指数(H)、丰富度指数(S)均高于真菌,根际土壤细菌与真菌Shannon-Wiener指数(H)、丰富度指数(S)与Pielou均匀度(EH)都高于非根际土壤;(3)4个恢复阶段土壤TN分别与p H、SOC、AN呈极显著正相关(P0.01),磷素、钾素与土壤微生物多样性呈显著相关(P0.05)。可研究结果为西南喀斯特脆弱区土壤生态功能恢复与植被恢复重建提供科学依据。     

轮牧时间对荒漠草原土壤种子库特性的影响

探讨季节性放牧下土壤种子库的特性对荒漠草原合理利用具有重要作用。以宁夏荒漠草原为对象,通过封育(FY)、传统时间轮牧(FG)、延迟开始轮牧(YG)、提前结束轮牧(TG)、延迟开始并提前结束轮牧(YT)和自由放牧(ZY)处理,研究了0～5、5～10、10～15 cm土层土壤种子库物种组成、种子库密度、垂直分布、多样性及其与地上植被的关系,探讨了种子库与土壤环境因子的关系。结果表明: 研究区土壤种子库物种组成共有9个科21个种。土壤种子库物种组成以TG种子库种类最多,达13种,而FY和ZY土壤种子库种类最少,各8种。ZY土壤种子库密度显著高于FY、YG、TG、YT;FY的土壤种子库中多年生植物种子数量最多,达32.0%;ZY种子库中多年生植物种子数最少,仅为12.4%,主要以有性繁殖的一年生杂类草种子为主;土壤种子库主要集中于0～5 cm表层土壤,随着土层深度的增加,土壤种子库大小降低。土壤种子库的优势度和多样性均以FY最高,优势度、多样性和均匀度均以ZY最低。土壤种子库与地上植被的相似性总体较低,相比之下FG及ZY种子库与地上植被相似性较高,FY最低。土壤水分、有机质、全氮、全磷、土壤容重是影响土壤种子库的主要土壤因子。与传统全年自由放牧相比,季节性四区轮牧能使荒漠草原土壤种子库多年生植物种类、密度以及种子库物种丰富度、多样性和均匀度增加,虽作用不及长期封育草地,但对荒漠草原的利用与保护具有重要意义。     

Dynamic response of woody vegetation on fencing protection in semi-arid areas; Case study: Pilot exclosure on the Firmihin Plateau,Socotra Island

Woody vegetation dynamics and Dracaena cinnabari regeneration have been studied for five years in the conditions of Socotra Island. Woody plants were measured regularly inside and outside the exclosure area, and the growth and survival of D. cinnabari seedlings were observed. In the exclosure of about 1000 m² a total of 49 species were identified, including 23 endemics, growing in the average density of 3.82 specimens per m². The fenced area was overgrown relatively rapidly by dense grass cover – reaching approx. 2.7 t/ha. Species growth dynamics inside and outside the exclosure shows that grazing had a marked impact, leading to the elimination of trees and shrubs. All grazed species grew noticeably in the exclosure, in the average of 50 cm in 5 years. D. cinnabari as the dominant flagship species of Socotra has been studied with regards to regeneration dynamics. Observations indicate that probability of its seedlings survival increases with their age. No seedlings germinated from the seeds sown in the experiment, however, outplanted seedlings performed relatively well. Field observations show that D. cinnabari seed germination is triggered when the seed reaches a protected micro-habitat with a developed humus layer and high relative humidity in the soil lasts for at least two days.