Topographic controls on black carbon accumulation in Alaskan black spruce forest soils: implications for organic matter dynamics

There is still much uncertainty as to how wildfire affects the accumulation of burn residues (such as black carbon (BC)) in the soil, and the corresponding changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) composition in boreal forests. We investigated SOC and BC composition in black spruce forests on different landscape positions in Alaska, USA. Mean BC stocks in surface mineral soils (0.34 ± 0.09 kg C m^?2) were higher than in organic soils (0.17 ± 0.07 kg C m^?2), as determined at four sites by three different ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy-based techniques. Aromatic carbon, protein, BC, and the alkyl:O-alkyl carbon ratio were higher in mineral soil than in organic soil horizons. There was no trend between mineral soil BC stocks and fire frequencies estimated from lake sediment records at four sites, and soil BC was relatively modern (<54–400 years, based on mean Δ¹⁴C ranging from 95.1 to ?54.7‰). A more extensive analysis (90 soil profiles) of mineral soil BC revealed that interactions among landscape position, organic layer depth, and bulk density explained most of the variance in soil BC across sites, with less soil BC occurring in relatively cold forests with deeper organic layers. We suggest that shallower organic layer depths and higher bulk densities found in warmer boreal forests are more favorable for BC production in wildfire, and more BC is integrated with mineral soil than organic horizons. Soil BC content likely reflected more recent burning conditions influenced by topography, and implications of this for SOC composition (e.g., aromaticity and protein content) are discussed.     

Relations of soil properties to topography and vegetation in a subtropical rain forest in southern Taiwan

Soil chemical properties for a subtropical rain forest in the Nanjenshan Reserve, southern Taiwan, were examined to determine soil-landscape and soil-vegetation relationships. Soil sampling sites were separated into four groups based on landscape features and exposure to the prevailing northeasterly monsoon winds. Corresponding vegetation types were delimited along the first DCA axis. The forest showed a drastic change both in structure and floristic composition along the wind-stress gradient. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that both topographic variables and vegetation types were needed to explain the variation in soil data. Soil properties that differed significantly among landforms were pH, available N, CEC, exchangeable Al, K, Ca and Mg. Levels of pH, exchangeable Ca and Mg increased in a downslope direction, and exchangeable Al tended to be higher in the upper slope soils. These trends pointed to the importance of slope processes in redistribution of soil minerals. The main differences in soil properties attributed to the influence of the occupying vegetation were apparently aspect dependent. The contents of available N, exchangeable K, and CEC in the 0–40 cm depth of soils under windward low-stature (mostly sclerophyllous) forest were consistently lower compared to those under the leeward forest. For a given catena, however, soil variability associated with vegetation differences seemed to be confounded by the slope processes.     

Watershed- and plot-scale tests of the mobile anion concept

Anion fluxes from a forest soil are usually correlated with those of base cations (BC). Declines in base cation deposition or long-term depletion from the soil may change these relationships. We used multiple regression to identify biogeochemical variables predicting annual volume-weighted concentrations of BC in streamwater draining a forested watershed, and analysis of variance to compare the effects of Ca and Cl inputs on BC fluxes out of soil horizons in irrigated plots. For the watershed, anion concentrations in streamwater predicted BC export most precisely (R ²=0.84). The best two-variable model (adjustedR ²=0.91) also included BC concentration in bulk deposition. Consistent with predictions from equations governing exchange chemistry, the proportion of charge contributed by Ca²⁺ increased with increasing total anion concentration, while that of Na⁺ decreased. At the plot scale, Cl^– concentrations in treatment solutions had a stronger effect (p=0.06) on BC concentration in Oa-horizon solutions than did Ca²⁺ concentrations (p=0.33). In individual horizons of individual plots, BC and total ion concentrations were correlated, but cation composition was not consistent within horizons from different plots. This study detected no evidence of longterm cation depletion in the soils controlling streamwater, but did detect extremely base-poor plots. Because acid deposition affects surface horizons first, streamwater chemistry may not be an adequate way to assess nutrient supply of forest soils.Abbreviations AD anion deficit - BC base cations - HBEF Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest     

Influence of dolomitic lime on DOC and DON leaching in a forest soil

The influence of liming on leaching and distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) in mineral soil was investigated in a leaching experiment with soil columns. Soil samples from separate horizons (O, A and B horizons) were collected from control and limed plots in a field liming experiment in a spruce forest in southern Sweden. The field liming (0.88 kg m^-2) had been carried out 8 years before sampling. To minimize the variation among replicates, soil profiles were reconstructed in the laboratory so that the dry weight was the same for each individual soil horizon regardless of treatment. Two soil column types were used with either the O+A horizons or the O+A+B horizons. One Norway spruce seedling (Picea abies (L.) Karst) was planted in each soil column. Average pH in the leachate water was greater in the limed treatment than in the control treatment (5.0 versus 4.0 for O+A columns and 4.3 versus 3.8 for O+A+B columns). After reaching an approximate steady state, the leaching of DOC was 3--4 times greater from the limed O+A and O+A+B columns than from the corresponding control columns but the leaching of DON increased (3.5 times) only in the limed O+A columns. There was a significant correlation between DOC and DON in the leachates from all columns except for the control O+A+B columns, which indicated a decoupling of DOC and DON retention in the B horizon in the control treatment. This might be explained by a selective adsorption of nitrogen poor hydrophobic compounds (C/N ratio: 32--77) while there was a lower retention of nitrogen rich hydrophilic compounds (C/N ratio: 14--20). Proportionally more hydrophobic compounds were leached from the limed soil compared to the unlimed soil. These hydrophobic compounds also became more enriched in nitrogen after liming so in the limed treatment nitrogen might be adsorbed at nearly the same proportion as carbon, which might explain the fact that there was no decoupling of leached DOC and DON from the B horizon after liming.     

Landscape-level seagrass–sediment relations in a coastal lagoon

We investigated the relationships between sediment (subaqueous soil) properties and eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) distribution to develop landscape-level soil-based strategies for choosing eelgrass restoration locations. Subaqueous soils were sampled and eelgrass cover determined for 14 soil-landscape units within a 116 ha area of Ninigret Pond, a coastal lagoon in Rhode Island, USA. Of the 14 soil-landscape units sampled for eelgrass cover, 52% had virtually no eelgrass cover (<10%), while 18% had high eelgrass cover (>90%). The Lagoon Bottom, Shallow Lagoon Bottom, Flood-tidal Delta Slope, and Barrier Cove subaqueous soil-landscape units had the highest eelgrass cover (66–100%). A weak relationship between eelgrass cover and water depths (r² = 0.10) was observed suggesting that properties other than water depth may also control eelgrass distribution. Subaqueous soils on landscapes with >60% eelgrass cover had relatively high levels of acid-volatile sulfides (>90 μg/g), high soil salinity levels (34–44 ppt), fine textures (silt loam), and relatively high total nitrogen levels (>0.15%). Four principal components accounted for 81% of the variability in eelgrass cover. The first component reflected particle-size distribution (i.e. sand, silt, and clay contents) effects and accounted for 43% of the variability. The other components suggested that eelgrass cover is correlated to carbonaceous remains, non-calcareous rock fragments and soil salinity. These data suggest that the current distribution of eelgrass within the study area is strongly influenced by physical and chemical subaqueous soil characteristics. Soil survey techniques proved useful for the delineation of sediment characteristics (e.g. texture, salinity) that influence eelgrass distribution patterns at landscape-level scales.     

Decomposition and stabilization of root litter in top- and subsoil horizons: what is the difference?

Mechanisms leading to high mean residence times of organic matter in subsoil horizons are poorly understood. In lower parts of the soil profile root material contributes greatly to soil organic matter (SOM). The objective of this study was to elucidate the decomposition dynamics of root-derived C and N in different soil depths during a 3 year field experiment and to examine the importance of different protection mechanisms as well as abiotic factors for the decomposition dynamics. Additionally, we assessed the effect of root litter addition on native SOM. Our conceptual approach included the exposure of litterbags with ¹³C and ¹⁵N labeled wheat root material mixed to loamy agricultural soil at three different soil depths (30, 60 and 90 cm). During the incubation period, we monitored soil temperature, humidity and the incorporation of root derived C and N into the soil microbial biomass and physical SOM fractions. Our results showed that abiotic decay conditions were better in subsurface horizons compared to the topsoil. Root litter addition significantly increased the size of microbial biomass in all three soil horizons. In the topsoil, root-derived C decomposition was significantly higher in the first 6 months of incubation compared to subsoil horizons. In 60 and 90 cm depths, a lag phase with development of soil microbial biomass seemed to be prevailing before decomposition was activated. For root-derived N, similar decomposition kinetics could be observed in top- and subsoil horizons. Despite of higher SOM contents, better soil structure and higher microbial activity in the topsoil horizon compared to subsoil horizons, the amounts of root-derived C and N remaining after 3 years were similar for all three depths. Most of the root-derived C and N was present as organo-mineral complexes or occluded in soil aggregates (oPOM), illustrating similar importance of these two protection mechanisms in all three soil depths. Addition of fresh root litter caused small losses of native soil C whereas native N was retained. We conclude that despite of similar SOM protection mechanisms, there are distinct differences in decomposition dynamics of root litter between top- and subsoil horizons. In the long run, the better abiotic decay conditions prevailing in subsoil horizons may compensate for their poorer physico-chemical characteristics.     

Vertical transport of dissolved organic C and N under long-term N amendments in pine and hardwood forests

At the Harvard Forest, Massachusetts, a long-term effort is under way to study responses in ecosystem biogeochemistry to chronic inputs of N in atmospheric deposition in the region. Since 1988, experimental additions of NH₄NO₃ (0, 5 and 15 g N m^–2 yr^–1) have been made in two forest stands:Pinus resinosa (red pine) and mixed hardwood. In the seventh year of the study, we measured solute concentrations and estimated solute fluxes in throughfall and at two soil depths, beneath the forest floors (Oa) and beneath the B horizons.Beneath the Oa, concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic C and N (DOC and DON) were higher in the coniferous stand than in the hardwood stand. The mineral soil exerted a strong homogenizing effect on concentrations beneath the B horizons. In reference plots (no N additions), DON composed 56% (pine) and 67% (hardwood) of the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) transported downward from the forest floor to the mineral soil, and 98% of the TDN exported from the solums. Under N amendments, fluxes of DON from the forest floor correlated positively with rates of N addition, but fluxes of inorganic N from the Oa exceeded those of DON. Export of DON from the solums appeared unaffected by 7 years of N amendments, but as in the Oa, DON composed smaller fractions of TDN exports under N amendments. DOC fluxes were not strongly related to N amendment rates, but ratios of DOC:DON often decreased.The hardwood forest floor exhibited a much stronger sink for inorganic N than did the pine forest floor, making the inputs of dissolved N to mineral soil much greater in the pine stand. Under the high-N treatment, exports of inorganic N from the solum of the pine stand were increased >500-fold over reference (5.2 vs. 0.01 g N m^–2 yr^–1), consistent with other manifestations of nitrogen saturation. Exports of N from the solum in the pine forest decreased in the order NO₃-N> NH₄-N> DON, with exports of inorganic N 14-fold higher than exports of DON. In the hardwood forest, in contrast, increased sinks for inorganic N under N amendments resulted in exports of inorganic N that remained lower than DON exports in N-amended plots as well as the reference plot.     

Ecological and Landscape Rehabilitation of a Quarry Site in Hong Kong

Quarrying for granite in Hong Kong, mainly for construction aggregates, has left huge and unsightly scars on the landscape. Recent government policy demands rehabilitation of the disturbed lands and restoration of the landscape adopting the ecological approach. At an active quarry, a method was tested for controlled restoration: blasting of the vertical rocky production faces to pile up the debris and to form artificial slopes that mimic those of the environs in a landform replication approach. On the scree blast piles, a soil cap of fine‐earth materials with organic amendments was installed to grow mainly tropical leguminous trees. The restoration trial largely failed, with extensive death or poor performance of most plants. The inability of the soil and the site to support vegetation was investigated. The main physical problems are shallow solum, large cavities in the bouldery substrate, high stone content, excessively coarse texture, compaction, and limited available‐moisture storage. The main chemical problems are the lack of nitrogen and phosphorus related to the meager organic‐matter content, low cation exchange capacity, and base saturation. Suggestions are made to ameliorate habitat conditions for plant growth in a comprehensive ecosystem‐reconstitution package that encompasses the landform, hydrology, microclimate, soil, and plant assemblage. Recommendations are given on the application of organic amendments to establish and maintain soil structure, restore decomposition regime, and raise nutrient and moisture storage capacities for a modified approach that could overcome the site difficulties.     

河北省康保县景观变化研究

利用1999年TM5和2003年的SPOT5遥感影像辅助GIS技术对河北省康保县土地利用景观变化进行系统研究,并用Logistic逐步回归对驱动因素进行分析;利用Kappa指数对分类结果进行精度评价-结果表明,1999和2003年分类结果的Kappa指数分别为86.72%和89.76%.康保县的旱地大面积减少,但仍为景观基质.菜地、人工草地、有林地面积和未成林造林地明显增加,主要由旱地、天然草地和改良草地转化而来菜地、人工草地的变化速率增加最快,研究区的景观格局破碎化程度加剧.其景观变化主要是退耕政策实施的结果,坡向因素为主要退耕驱动因素,而直接的驱动因素是由坡向决定的水热条件和肥力因素.     

太湖流域丘陵区两种土地利用类型土壤水分分布控制因素

为探究太湖流域丘陵区典型土地利用类型(如竹林地和茶园)土壤水分的控制因素,在不同深度土壤水分定期观测的基础上,根据前7d降雨量将研究时段划分为干旱状态和湿润状态,利用分类与回归树(CART)方法得出不同干湿状态下土壤水分分布的主控因子,并借助典范对应分析(CCA)定量分析不同土地利用类型、不同土壤深度土壤水分格局与环境因子关系。结果表明:(1)高程、土地利用类型和土层厚度对土壤水分分布的相对贡献率最大,但在不同干湿状态下其影响程度存在差异;(2)干旱状态时土壤水分主要受高程、坡度、地形湿度指数(TWI)和剖面曲率等地形因素的作用,而土层厚度和粘粒也分别为0—20 cm和20—40 cm深度土壤水分的主控因子;(3)在湿润状态下,茶园0—20 cm土壤水分的主控因素为地形因子,在20—40 cm则以土壤性质为主,竹林地两个深度的土壤水分受地形和土壤性质的作用都很强,其中20—40 cm深度土壤水分与环境因子的关系较0—20 cm深度更为复杂。     

基于源汇景观单元的流域土壤侵蚀风险格局识别

人类活动影响下的土地利用及其景观格局会在一定程度上影响流域土壤侵蚀的发生发展。选取位于三峡库区的綦江流域作为研究区,利用2015年航空影像数据、数字高程模型和土壤数据库,进行水文响应单元的划分,以此作为研究区的源汇景观单元。综合景观类型、土壤和坡度对土壤侵蚀影响的贡献,构建源汇景观单元权重,在此基础上,对景观空间负荷对比指数进行修正并进行土壤侵蚀风险格局识别,最后利用修正的通用土壤侵蚀方程进行土壤侵蚀的模拟,以此验证风险格局的合理性,并综合分析了源汇景观空间特征:源汇景观单元组成结构、权重和土壤侵蚀风险。结果表明:(1)源汇景观单元权重大的地区主要分布在中低山区向低丘缓坡区过渡的地带,坡度较大、土壤可蚀性较高,以及水田、旱地和居民点的源汇景观单元也较为集中分布。(2)各子流域的景观空间负荷对比指数与平均土壤侵蚀模数具有显著正相关关系,因此基于源汇景观单元并赋予其权重的景观空间负荷对比指数能较好地反映流域内部土壤侵蚀规律,可作为流域土壤侵蚀风险评价的有效方法之一。(3)依据各子流域的景观空间负荷对比指数特征可将库区綦江流域划分为五大土壤侵蚀景观风险区:北部沿江地区各子流域耕地分布较为集中且相对水流路径较短,以及林草地较少,土壤侵蚀风险大;中部丘陵地区源景观单元分布较为分散,景观空间分布不均衡,存在一定的土壤侵蚀风险;南部中低山区以林地汇景观分布为主,源景观分布相对较小,土壤侵蚀风险较低。     

酸性森林土壤中Ali/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值的分布特征及影响因素

研究了西南和华南酸性森林土壤中Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值的分布特征与影响因素,用主成分分析(PCA)和偏最小二乘法(PLS)回归综合评价各种影响因素及其相对重要性. 2000～2002年连续3年的监测结果表明,大多数土壤水中该摩尔比值都小于临界值1.0,说明土壤铝释放还未对植被造成显著伤害.偏最小二乘法(PLS)回归显示,土壤铝饱和度(AlS)是影响A层土壤水中Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值的首要因素;土壤铝饱和度愈高,土壤水中Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值愈高.5个流域中,尽管流溪河流域酸沉降量偏低,但由于土壤铝饱和度较高,A层土壤水中Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值高于其他流域.土壤水中无机铝(Al_i)浓度是影响深层(B₁、B₂、BC层)土壤水中Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值的主导因素;土壤水中无机铝浓度愈高,Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值愈高.各流域内摩尔比值沿土壤深度的变化与无机铝浓度的变化基本一致.可以认为,土壤铝饱和度是影响土壤水中Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值区域性差异的主要因素,土壤水中无机铝浓度是影响Al_i/(Ca+Mg)摩尔比值纵向差异的主要因素.     

陕北水蚀风蚀交错带柠条适应不同生境的形态和生理可塑性

以陕北水蚀风蚀交错带4个不同坡位与土壤质地生境[沟底+坝淤绵沙土(A)、梁坡+红黄土(B)、坡顶+绵沙土(C)、坡顶+风沙土盖绵沙土(D)]中生长的柠条为研究对象,研究了其生长、光合和水力性状的可塑性变化,以揭示柠条对不同生境的适应机制。结果表明:(1)生境D和生境A样地1~3m和3m土层的平均含水量明显高于生境B和C;(2)与生境B和C相比,生境A和D中生长的柠条冠幅、株高和新枝长显著增加,叶厚度减小,正午叶水势、净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率亦显著增加,但不同生境中柠条枝比导水率、Huber值和栓塞程度无显著差异;(3)柠条各测定指标中,新枝长、净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率表现出较大的可塑性。研究认为,柠条可能主要通过新枝长或光合生理特征的改变来适应不同的水分生境。     

Influence of soil thickness on stand characteristics in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest

Soil thickness can be an important factor influencing vegetation, yet few spatially-explicit studies have examined soil horizon thickness and vegetation composition in summer-drought forests. We compared seismic and soil penetration measurements of combined A + C and Cr horizon thickness, soil moisture and temperature, and stand variables in a contiguous 4-ha mixed-conifer stand of the Sierra Nevada. Thickness of A + C and Cr horizons were highly variable but were not correlated to each other. Total basal area and canopy cover were positively related with A + C horizon thickness, and shrub cover was positively related with Cr horizon thickness. Basal area of white fir [Abies concolor (Gord and Glend) Lindl.] and incense-cedar [Calocedrus decurrens (Torrey) Florin] were positively correlated with A + C horizon thickness, but there was no relationship between A + C or Cr horizon thickness and basal area of Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. and Balf.), sugar pine (P. lambertiana Douglas), or red fir (A. magnifica A. Murray). Both white and red fir seedlings were associated with decreased soil temperature, but only white fir seedlings were positively associated with soil moisture. Soil penetration estimates of soil thickness were similar to seismic estimates for shallow soils (<50 cm depth) but were poorly related on deeper soils. Visual surface conditions and tile probe estimates of soil thickness can be highly misleading because ‘shallow’ areas may have a thick layer of weathered bedrock that can serve as a potential rooting medium for deep-rooted trees and shrubs. In our study only the refraction seismic method had the potential to measure total soil depth that included A + C and Cr horizon thickness.     

Phytoremediation potentials of cowpea (Vigina unguiculata) and maize (Zea mays) for hydrocarbon degradation in organic and inorganic manure-amended tropical typic paleustults

A field study on phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil was designed to assess the effects of organic manures (poultry droppings and cassava peels) and NPK fertilization on the potentials of cowpea (Vigina unguiculata) and maize (Zea mays) to stimulate hydrocarbon degradation in soil. Cowpea and maize crops were established on the hydrocarbon contaminated soil amended with three rates (0, 4, and 8 ton/ha) of the soil amendments, and arranged in 3 x 3 x 3 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design. Hydrocarbon was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in plots treated with the combined forms of the soil amendments. While the treatment combinations of 8 t/ha Poultry Droppings (PD) + 8 t/ha Cassava Peels (CP) + 4 t/ha NPK fertilizer was optimal for hydrocarbon degradation in the cowpea plots, 4 t/ha PD + 8 t/ha CP + 8 t/ha NPK fertilizer was the most preferred in the maize plot. Cowpea showed greater potential for hydrocarbon degradation at the first year. The mean values of hydrocarbon concentrations at the cowpea and maize plots indicated no significant difference at the second year. Grain yield of cowpea increased by 87% at the second year, while maize was unable to grow to maturity in the first year.     

青海湖流域季节性冻土区坡面土壤有机碳分布特征及其影响因素

以高寒半干旱区青海湖流域季节性冻土为研究对象,通过调查采样和室内分析,研究了坡向和坡位对不同深度土壤有机碳含量分布的影响。结果表明：阴、阳坡有机碳含量均随土壤深度增加而下降,但阳坡下降的幅度（64%）明显高于阴坡（44%）。阴坡土壤有机碳平均含量为81.99 g/kg,大于阳坡（61.84 g/kg）;不同坡位,土壤有机碳分布特征因坡向而异,其中阴坡土壤有机碳平均含量表现为坡下（89.60 g/kg）＞坡中（86.52 g/kg）＞坡上（69.87 g/kg）,而阳坡土壤有机碳平均含量表现为坡上（65.71 g/kg）＞坡下（61.42 g/kg）＞坡中（58.39 g/kg）。此外,坡位对不同深度土壤有机碳的影响程度在不同坡向也存在差异。阴坡坡位因子对深层土壤有机碳影响显著,而阳坡坡位因子对浅层土壤有机碳影响显著。一般线性模型结果表明,坡面土壤有机碳含量主要受土层和坡向的影响,可解释74.52%的变异性。     

Carbon dynamics within agricultural and native sites in the loess region of western Iowa

In order to quantify the historical changes in carbon storage that result from agricultural conversion, this study compared the carbon dynamics of two sites in the loess region of Iowa: a native prairie and a cropland. Field data were obtained to determine present‐day carbon storage and its variability within a landscape (a stable ridgetop vs. eroding upper‐midslope vs. depositional lower slope). Models were used to recreate the historical carbon budget of these sites and determine the cropland's potential to be a net CO₂ source or sink, relative to the atmosphere. Regardless of slope position, the cropland site contains approximately half the amount of carbon as prairie. Variability in soil carbon storage within a site as a consequence of slope position is as large or larger (variations of 200–300%) than temporal variation (～200% at all slope positions). The most extreme difference in soil carbon storage between the cropland and prairie sites is found in the soil at the upper‐midslope, which is the area of greatest erosion. The models estimate that 93–172% of the carbon in the original topsoil has been lost from the cropland's eroding midslope. Much of this carbon is derived from deeper soil horizons. Either a small sink or strong source of carbon to the atmosphere is created, depending on the fate of the eroded sediment and its associated carbon.     

面向土系调查制图的小尺度区域景观分类——以宁镇丘陵区中一小区域为例

土系是中国土壤系统分类的基层分类单元,与所处微域景观联系密切,对小尺度样区进行景观分类研究有助于对研究区景观建立系统的认识。以宁镇丘陵区一小尺度样区为例,结合景观生态分类理论及土系特点,探讨了面向土系调查制图的景观分类的原则与方法,建立了包括景观区、景观类、景观亚类和景观相的四级景观分类系统,并借助3S技术进行了景观制图,并以此为基础对样区开展土系调查,对景观分类体系进行了验证。结果表明,景观相与土系有较好相关性,对土系分布具有指示作用,此景观分类体系有助于对土壤所处景观条件形成深入系统认识,可为土系调查制图工作提供参考。     

Identifying multiscale habitat factors influencing koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) occurrence and management in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Summary   Modelling for the conservation of koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) populations has primarily focused on natural habitat variables (e.g. tree species, soil types and soil moisture). Until recently, limited consideration has been given to modelling the effects of the landscape context (e.g. habitat area, habitat configuration and roads). Yet, the combined influence of natural habitats and anthropogenic impacts at multiple spatial scales are likely to be important determinants of where koala populations occur and remain viable in human-modified landscapes. The study tested the importance of multiscale habitat variables on koala occurrence in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The models focused at three spatial scales: site ( <  1 ha), patch (1–100 ha), and landscape (100–1000 s ha). Logistic regression and hierarchical partitioning analyses were used to rank alternative models and key explanatory variables.
The results showed that an increased likelihood of koala presence in fragmented landscapes in the urban–forest interface (as opposed to larger blocks of forest habitat) can best be explained by the positive effects of soil fertility and the presence of preferred koala tree species in these fragmented areas. If koalas are to be effectively conserved in Ballarat, it is critical to (i) protect remaining core areas of high-quality habitat, including regenerating areas; (ii) protect scattered habitat patches which provide connectivity; and (iii) develop and implement habitat restoration programmes to improve habitat connectivity and enhance opportunities for safe koala movement between habitat patches intersected by main roads.     

岩层倾向对南方喀斯特地区坡耕地土壤理化性质的影响

岩层倾向与不同坡向组合形成了顺向坡和逆向坡的地貌差异,进而影响了土壤中非生物资源的分布。喀斯特地区由于特殊的地质构造,顺向坡和逆向坡分布普遍。以重庆市酉阳县泔溪镇喀斯特槽谷坡耕地为研究区域,研究岩层倾向对喀斯特地区坡耕地土壤理化性质的影响。研究结果表明,顺向坡表层和下层土壤的自然含水量、饱和含水量、总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度均显著高于逆向坡相应层位,非毛管孔隙度、容重显著低于逆向坡相应层位。顺向坡土壤的sa(SiO_2/Al_2O_3)、saf(SiO_2/(Al_2O_3+Fe_2O_3))值显著高于逆向坡,顺向坡淋溶发育程度高于逆向坡。顺向坡土壤表层和下层的有机质、速效钾及碱解氮含量均显著高于逆向坡表层和下层相应含量,而pH值和有效磷含量是逆向坡含量较高。顺向坡下层土壤pH值和水分含量低于表层,而逆向坡下层土壤pH值和水分含量高于表层。综上结果表明,当岩层倾向与坡向相同时,更有利于水分的入渗和保持,促进土壤的淋溶与发育。