Spatiotemporal analysis of ground-based woody plant leafing in response to temperature in temperate eastern China

The analysis of woody plant leafing in response to regional-scale temperature variation using ground-based phenology is usually limited by the sparse coverage and missing data of ground observation. In this study, a station-based multispecies method was proposed to generate spatiotemporal variation of woody plant leafing date using ground observations from the Chinese Phenological Observation Network during 1974–1996. The results show that the leafing date had slightly insignificant advance (?0.56 day decade^?1), and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) index could explain 36 % variance of the spring leafing date anomaly. The leafing date had been substantially delayed (4 days) when AO shifted from an extreme high index state (2) in 1989–1990 to a relatively low state (0.1) in 1991–1996. The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to demonstrate the temporal evolutions and spatial structures of interannual variations of the spring temperature and leafing date anomalies. The three CCA spatial patterns of leafing date anomaly are similar to those of spring temperature anomaly. The first spatial pattern shows ubiquitous warming, which is consistent with the ubiquitous advance in leafing date across the study area. The second and third spatial patterns present the regional differences featured by advanced (delayed) leafing associated with high (low) temperature. The results suggest that the spring leafing date anomaly is spatiotemporally coherent with the regional-scale temperature variations. Although we focus here on woody plant leafing in a historical period in temperate eastern China, our station-based multispecies method may be applicable to analysis of the ground-based phenology in response to regional-scale climatic variation in other regions.     

Precipitation impacts on vegetation spring phenology on the Tibetan Plateau

The ongoing changes in vegetation spring phenology in temperate/cold regions are widely attributed to temperature. However, in arid/semiarid ecosystems, the correlation between spring temperature and phenology is much less clear. We test the hypothesis that precipitation plays an important role in the temperature dependency of phenology in arid/semiarid regions. We therefore investigated the influence of preseason precipitation on satellite‐derived estimates of starting date of vegetation growing season (SOS) across the Tibetan Plateau (TP). We observed two clear patterns linking precipitation to SOS. First, SOS is more sensitive to interannual variations in preseason precipitation in more arid than in wetter areas. Spatially, an increase in long‐term averaged preseason precipitation of 10 mm corresponds to a decrease in the precipitation sensitivity of SOS by about 0.01 day mm^?1. Second, SOS is more sensitive to variations in preseason temperature in wetter than in dryer areas of the plateau. A spatial increase in precipitation of 10 mm corresponds to an increase in temperature sensitivity of SOS of 0.25 day °C^?1 (0.25 day SOS advance per 1 °C temperature increase). Those two patterns indicate both direct and indirect impacts of precipitation on SOS on TP. This study suggests a balance between maximizing benefit from the limiting climatic resource and minimizing the risk imposed by other factors. In wetter areas, the lower risk of drought allows greater temperature sensitivity of SOS to maximize the thermal benefit, which is further supported by the weaker interannual partial correlation between growing degree days and preseason precipitation. In more arid areas, maximizing the benefit of water requires greater sensitivity of SOS to precipitation, with reduced sensitivity to temperature. This study highlights the impacts of precipitation on SOS in a large cold and arid/semiarid region and suggests that influences of water should be included in SOS module of terrestrial ecosystem models for drylands.     

中国生态地理区城市水资源利用效率时空分异特征

我国水资源面临的形势十分严峻,水资源短缺、水污染严重、水生态环境恶化等问题突出,已成为制约社会经济可持续发展的主要瓶颈。基于分类数据包络分析（Categorical DEA）对2007-2016年中国生态地理区城市水资源利用效率进行测算,对其时间变化、空间分布以及空间收敛性进行分析。结果表明：1）2007-2016年期间全国城市水资源利用效率总体处于低效率状态,随时间高低交错波动式发展,整体呈先降后升势态;2）生态地理区城市水资源利用综合效率由高到低依次为温带干旱区、温带半干旱区、温带半湿润区、温带湿润区、亚热带湿润区,呈西北向东南逐渐递减的空间分布格局,生态地理区纯技术效率区间差异较大,但空间分布规律不显著,区域规模效率间差距小,且无明显空间分布规律;3）纯技术效率低效是制约全国水资源利用综合效率提升的主要因素,生态地理区间纯技术效率巨大差距导致全国纯技术效率整体低效,也是全国水资源利用综合效率低效的根本原因;4）生态地理区水资源利用综合效率区域差距逐渐缩小,主要是因为高效率区域效率值向低效率区域靠拢,区域间低效向高效的"追赶效应"不明显。     

青藏高原植被生长季NDVI时空变化与影响因素

青藏高原是中国乃至亚洲的生态屏障,研究其植被对气候变化的响应对区域生态保护具有重要的现实意义.基于MOD09A1数据反演的生长季归一化植被指数(NDVI),分析2001-2018年青藏高原植被生长季NDVI时空特征和变化趋势,结合气象站点数据阐释NDVI与气候因子的关系.结果 表明:研究期间,青藏高原植被生长季NDVI...     

Shortened temperature‐relevant period of spring leaf‐out in temperate‐zone trees

Temperature during a particular period prior to spring leaf‐out, the temperature‐relevant period (TRP), is a strong determinant of the leaf‐out date in temperate‐zone trees. Climatic warming has substantially advanced leaf‐out dates in temperate biomes worldwide, but its effect on the beginning and length of the TRP has not yet been explored, despite its direct relevance for phenology modeling. Using 1,551 species–site combinations of long‐term (1951–2016) in situ observations on six tree species (namely, Aesculus hippocastanum, Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, and Quercus robur) in central Europe, we found that the advancing leaf‐out was accompanied by a shortening of the TRP. On average across all species and sites, the length of the TRP significantly decreased by 23% (p < .05), from 60 ± 4 days during 1951–1965 to 47 ± 4 days during 2002–2016. Importantly, the average start date of the TRP did not vary significantly over the study period (March 2–5, DOY = 61–64), which could be explained by sufficient chilling over the study period in the regions considered. The advanced leaf‐out date with unchanged beginning of the TRP can be explained by the faster accumulation of the required heat due to climatic warming, which overcompensated for the retarding effect of shortening daylength on bud development. This study shows that climate warming has not yet affected the mean TRP starting date in the study region, implying that phenology modules in global land surface models might be reliable assuming a fixed TRP starting date at least for the temperate central Europe. Field warming experiments do, however, remain necessary to test to what extent the length of TRP will continue to shorten and whether the starting date will remain stable under future climate conditions.     

Retention of nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon in a large semi-arid riverine lake system

Lakes and reservoirs (impoundments) are often viewed as a sink for nutrients within the river continuum. To date, most studies on nutrient retention within impoundments are derived from the temperate climate zones of Europe and North America, only consider one nutrient, and are often short-term (1–2 years). Here, we present a long-term (17 year) data set and nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and silica) budget for two connected semi-arid lakes (the Lower Lakes) at the terminus of the River Murray, Australia. Most of the filterable reactive phosphorus and nitrate entering the lakes were retained (77 and 92%, respectively). Total phosphorus (TP) was also strongly retained (55% of the annual TP load on average) and the annual TP retention rates could be predicted as a function of the areal hydraulic loading rate (annual lake outflow/lake surface area). On average, there was a slight net retention (7%) of the annual total nitrogen (TN) load but a slight net export (6% of the load) of organic N. TN retention as function of the areal hydraulic loading rate was lower than expected from existing models, possibly because of high nitrogen fixation rates in the Lower Lakes. Silica was retained (39%) at similar rates to those observed in previous studies. There was also a marked increase in the TN:TP and TN:Si ratios within the lake (TN:TP~30 and TN:Si~0.67) compared to those entering (TN:TP~15, TN:Si~0.45), as a consequence of the relatively low net retention of nitrogen.     

1982-2015年中国温带不同草地植被枯黄期对极端气候事件的响应

随着极端气候事件频率和强度的增加,植被物候正在发生深刻的变化。然而,植被枯黄期(EGS)对极端气候的响应机制目前尚未厘清,特别是对于干旱半干旱地区的草地而言。因此,聚焦我国温带草地,基于1982—2015年全球监测与模型研究工作组归一化植被指数(GIMMS NDVI3g)长时间序列数据提取草地物候参数,并分析其时空变化规律;运用随机森林模型等方法探究温带草地EGS对极端气候变化的响应特征。结果表明：(1)全区多年平均EGS主要发生于270—290儒略日(DOY),59.8%的区域呈延迟趋势,其中显著延迟(P<0.05)的区域分布在新疆天山、阿尔泰山一带和准噶尔盆地西部、黄土高原北部、呼伦贝尔高原的西部和东北小兴安岭。(2)EGS与极端气温暖极值(日最低气温的最大值、日最高气温的最大值、暖夜日数、暖昼日数)之间均以广泛的正相关关系为主;相比之下,极端降水事件与EGS之间的关系相对比较复杂,这与各草地类型自身的生理策略和所处环境密切相关。(3)整体而言,持续干旱日数、气温日较差和暖夜日数对全域草地EGS动态变化具有极大的重要性。就不同草地类型而言,温带草甸草原主要受到气温日较差的影响...     

Changes in satellite‐derived spring vegetation green‐up date and its linkage to climate in China from 1982 to 2010: a multimethod analysis

The change in spring phenology is recognized to exert a major influence on carbon balance dynamics in temperate ecosystems. Over the past several decades, several studies focused on shifts in spring phenology; however, large uncertainties still exist, and one understudied source could be the method implemented in retrieving satellite‐derived spring phenology. To account for this potential uncertainty, we conducted a multimethod investigation to quantify changes in vegetation green‐up date from 1982 to 2010 over temperate China, and to characterize climatic controls on spring phenology. Over temperate China, the five methods estimated that the vegetation green‐up onset date advanced, on average, at a rate of 1.3 ± 0.6 days per decade (ranging from 0.4 to 1.9 days per decade) over the last 29 years. Moreover, the sign of the trends in vegetation green‐up date derived from the five methods were broadly consistent spatially and for different vegetation types, but with large differences in the magnitude of the trend. The large intermethod variance was notably observed in arid and semiarid vegetation types. Our results also showed that change in vegetation green‐up date is more closely correlated with temperature than with precipitation. However, the temperature sensitivity of spring vegetation green‐up date became higher as precipitation increased, implying that precipitation is an important regulator of the response of vegetation spring phenology to change in temperature. This intricate linkage between spring phenology and precipitation must be taken into account in current phenological models which are mostly driven by temperature.     

中国东部暖温带刺槐花期空间格局的模拟与预测

模拟刺槐开花日期与气温之间的空间关系,对于揭示蜜源植物物候空间格局形成的生态机制和掌握养蜂生产的时宜,具有重要的科学意义.利用中国东部暖温带26个站点1986-2005年的刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期数据,建立了基于日均温的多年平均和逐年物候空间模型,模拟多年平均和逐年刺槐开花日期的空间格局,并对模型进行了空间外推检验.进而,将1986-2005年8 km×8 km分辨率的日均温格点数据代人多年平均和逐年物候空间模型,得到连续地理空间多年平均和逐年刺槐开花日期的空间格局,并尝试设计了研究区内转地放蜂的适宜路线.结果表明:中国东部暖温带1986-2005年多年平均及逐年最佳期间日均温的空间格局分别控制着多年平均和逐年刺槐开花日期的空间格局.各地多年平均刺槐开花日期的空间序列与最佳期间日均温的空间序列呈显著负相关(P＜0.001),多年平均气温—物候空间模型对刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期的方差解释量分别为87％、86％和77％,模拟的均方根误差(RMSE)分别为2.5、2.7d和4.1d.同样,各地逐年刺槐开花日期的空间序列与最佳期间日均温的空间序列均呈显著负相关(P＜0.05),逐年气温-物候空间模型对刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期的方差解释量分别介于44％-94％、57％-92％和39％-84％之间,模拟的平均RMSE分别为3.9、4.0d和5.4d.预测得到的连续地理空间多年平均刺槐开花日期呈现出自南向北、从平原向丘陵和山地逐渐推迟的空间演进特征.据此,中国东部暖温带地区转地放蜂可以沿西线、中线和东线进行,放蜂的大致持续时间可达40-50 d.此外,预测得到的连续地理空间1986-2005年期间刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期的线性趋势以提前为主,呈显著提前的面积分别占总面积的78％、26％和32％.     

Leafing patterns and leaf traits of four evergreen shrubs in the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

We assessed leafing patterns (rate, timing, and duration of leafing) and leaf traits (leaf longevity, leaf mass per area and leaf-chemistry) in four co-occurring evergreen shrubs of the genus Larrea and Chuquiraga (each having two species) in the arid Patagonian Monte of Argentina. We asked whether species with leaves well-defended against water shortage (high LMA, leaf longevity, and lignin concentration, and low N concentration) have lower leaf production, duration of the leafing period, and inter-annual variation of leafing than species with the opposite traits. We observed two distinctive leafing patterns each related to one genus. Chuquiraga species produced new leaves concentrated in a massive short leafing event (5–48 days) while new leaves of Larrea species emerged gradually (128–258 days). Observed leafing patterns were consistent with simultaneous and successive leafing types previously described for woody plants. The peak of leaf production occurred earlier in Chuquiraga species (mid September) than in Larrea species (mid October–late November). Moreover, Chuquiraga species displayed leaves with the longest leaf lifespan, while leaves of Larrea species had the lowest LMA and the highest N and soluble phenolics concentrations. We also observed that only the leaf production of Larrea species increased in humid years. We concluded that co-occurring evergreen species in the Patagonian Monte displayed different leafing patterns, which were associated with some relevant leaf traits acting as plant defenses against water stress and herbivores. Differences in leafing patterns could provide evidence of ecological differentiation among coexisting species of the same life form.     

Callus culture and plantlet regeneration in date palm (Phoneix dactylifera L.): an important horticultural cash crop for arid and semi-arid horticulture

Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants - Phoneix dactylifera L. commonly called date palm is a highly valuable horticultural cash crop for arid and semi-arid regions. The availability of...     

基于改进遥感生态指数的干旱内流区生态质量评价——以阴山北麓塔布河流域为例

干旱-半干旱地区生态环境脆弱,开展多要素、长时序生态质量动态变化研究,可为干旱-半干旱区生态建设与区域可持续发展提供科学依据。在遥感生态指数RSEI基础上,根据干旱-半干旱地区特点,耦合了绿度（NDVI）、湿度（WET）、热度（LST）、干度（SI）和盐度（SI-T）五个指标,提出适应干旱-半干旱区域生态质量评价的mRSEI模型,对1986-2022年间塔布河流域生态质量进行动态评价。利用Mann-Kendall突变检验、Theil-Sen （T-S）分析联合Mann-Kendall趋势分析法探究生态质量时空变化;引入欧洲中期天气预报中心发布的第五代再分析数据集（ERA5）的气象数据,在逐像元层面探讨了气候因素与mRSEI的相关关系。研究表明：（1）相较于RSEI而言,mRSEI能更好集成各生态分量包含的信息,且模型更加稳定可靠;（2）mRSEI受到的负面影响主要来自于盐度指标（SI-T）,相关系数均值为-0.922,其影响力大于干度、热度指标,表明引入盐度指标对干旱-半干旱区生态质量评价具有重要意义;（3）研究时序内mRSEI介于0.179-0.423,生态质量总体呈下降趋势（Slope=-0.0014, P<0.05）;（4）趋势分析结果表明,塔布河流域84.37%的区域生态质量未发生变化,另外15.63%中,生态质量退化面积占比远高于生态质量变好的区域,研究区生态质量总体呈退化趋势。（5）气候因素与mRSEI相关分析结果表明,降水与mRSEI呈正相关（r=0.411-0.807）,年均气温与mRSEI呈负相关（r=-0.824--0.398）;时序相关分析结果表明,气温是研究区生态质量的主控因子。（6）人文因素虽然会对塔布河流域生态质量产生扰动,但并不起决定作用。基于改进的遥感生态指数mRSEI,能够科学监测干旱-半干旱区生态质量空间分布、准确把握生态质量变化趋势,可为干旱-半干旱地区生态保护提供理论支撑。     

Ant- and termite-eating in Australian mammals and lizards: a comparison

Abstract Relative abundance is one factor that influences selection of prey by insectivorous mammals and lizards. Ants and termites are extremely abundant over most of inland Australia. Their patterns of abundance are also broadly similar across climatic gradients, being most and least abundant in seasonally arid (tropic and sub-tropic) and temperate mesic regions, respectively. All else being equal (e. g. mechanisms of prey defence, palat-ability, availability), animals that eat many termites should also eat many (adult) ants. The present study asks three questions: (i) What is the diversity of specialized ant-eaters (>50% volume)?; (ii) Does specialization vary with climate?; and (iii) Are ants and termites eaten in broadly similar proportions (using an earlier study on termites). Of the mammals, only the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) in mesic regions, and probably the marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops) in the arid zone and the striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) in mesic regions are ant-specialized. Ant-specialization in mammals shows no pattern with regard to climate. Of the lizards, only four agamid lizards are ant-specialized: Moloch horridus (arid, semi-arid), Ctenophorus fordi (arid, semi-arid), Ctenophorus isolepis (arid) and Ctenophorus maculatus (arid). Specialization on ants by lizards is greatest in the arid zone (4 spp.); no lizard species were found to be ant-specialists in mesic regions. In the arid and semi-arid zone, two mammals each specialize on termites and one on ants; in mesic regions, two mammals specialize on ants and one on termites. Specialized insectivorous mammals thus demonstrate no marked preference for either termites or ants. Lizards, in contrast, are markedly termite-specialized (4 ant-specialist spp., 16 termite-specialist spp.), and specialization is greatest in the arid zone (16 spp.). Greater specialization on termites than on (adult) ants in lizards is explained with reference to differences in prey defence and palatability between ants and termites. Consumption of ant brood (eggs, larvae, pupae) appears to be associated with a fossorial foraging mode (the marsupial mole N. typhlops; spp. of Aprasia lizards; spp. of blindsnakes Ramphotyphlops).     

基于MODIS-EVI数据和Symlet11小波识别东北地区水稻主要物候期

作物物候信号能够反映温度和降水等变化对植被生长的影响,是进行农作物动态分析和田间管理的重要依据。基于2008年EOS-MODIS多时相卫星遥感数据,研究了我国东北地区水稻的主要物候期的识别方法。首先提取研究区24个农业气象观测站所在位置的MODIS-EVI(Enhanced Vegetation Index,增强型植被指数)指数的时间序列;同时利用小波滤波消除时间序列上的噪音,小波滤波选用函数包含Daubechies(7-20),Coiflet(3-5)和Symlet(7-15)共26种类型。然后根据水稻移栽期、抽穗期和成熟期在EVI时间序列上的表现特征来识别水稻主要物候期。最后与东北地区24个站点水稻物候观测资料对比并分析误差。结果表明,Symlet11小波滤波的效果最好,其移栽期识别结果的误差绝大部分在±16 d,抽穗期和成熟期识别结果的误差在±8 d。表明通过此方法可以较好地识别东北水稻主要物候期,并可进一步应用到整个东北地区水稻的物候空间分布和时间变化特征研究上。     

未来气候变化对沙枣适宜分布区的影响预测

气候变化显著影响全球植物物种的地理分布,了解未来气候变化对我国造林树种适宜分布区的影响,及时采取应对措施,对提高造林的成效具有至关重要的作用.选取在荒漠化防治和退化土地修复中起重要作用的优良树种沙枣为研究对象,利用MaxEnt和GIS工具,基于182个来自标本馆、出版文献的记录和13个来自BIOCLIM、Holdridge生命地带、Kira指数的气候因子,预测其气候适宜区在未来气候情景下的变化.结果表明: 未来(2070s)4种气候情景对沙枣适宜区的影响存在差异,在低浓度温室气体排放情景(RCP 2.6)下适宜区面积将缩减,缩减的区域主要位于西北当前适宜分布区的边缘;而中等偏低浓度温室气体排放情景(RCP 4.5)、中等偏高浓度温室气体排放情景(RCP 6.0)和高浓度温室气体排放情景(RCP 8.5)下,均有不同程度的扩张,扩张的区域主要位于西北暖温带干旱地区和东北部中温带半湿润地区;在RCP 8.5情景下,北部中温带干旱区和半干旱地区以及南方北亚热带湿润地区也有较明显的扩张.未来适宜区分布范围的地理质心将以6～19 km·(10 a)^-1的速度移动,海拔质心将以3～20 m·(10 a)^-1的速度向更低区域移动.沙枣稳定适宜区约占当前适宜区分布范围的83%～98%,当前的气候适宜区总体稳定.     

我国北方干旱半干旱地区人工造林对地下水位变化影响的模拟研究

水资源短缺已成为阻碍我国社会可持续发展的至关因素,而其中地下水资源短缺更甚。自1952年我国于干旱半干旱地区实施大规模人工造林以来,大量研究资料显示人工林的蒸散量要普遍高于当地自然植被的蒸散量,这可能会打破当地的地下水平衡。而以往我国有关人工造林对地下水位影响的研究较欠缺,因此在基于两种假设条件下,运用7种蒸散发模型测算了人工造林活动对北方干旱半干旱地区的地下水位影响。结果表明大规模的人工造林活动会降低地下水位高度,基于假设条件一,甘肃、宁夏和新疆地下水位下降严重;基于假设条件二,北京地下水位下降明显。提出我国在未来生态修复实践中要考虑对地下水供给的影响,确定合理造林规模并选择栽培乡土树种,真正提高地下水资源利用率。     

Leaf phenology in relation to canopy closure in southern Appalachian trees

Leaf phenology varies markedly across tree species of temperate deciduous forests. Early leafing in spring may increase light capture and carbon gain prior to canopy closure, allowing saplings to survive in understory sites deeply shaded in midsummer. We quantified sapling leaf phenology for 18 tree species and seasonal variation in understory light availability at three sites along a ridge-slope-cove landform gradient in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Early leafing species (e.g., Aesculus flava, Carpinus caroliniana) broke bud an average of 24 d before late leafers (e.g., Magnolia fraseri, Nyssa sylvatica). Canopy closure occurred 14-18 d earlier and summer understory light was on average 63-74% lower on intermediate and mesic sites than on the xeric site. Early leafing species intercepted 45-80% of their growing season photon flux before canopy closure vs. 8-15% for late leafers. However, earlier leafing increased exposure to freezing temperatures by 5.5% per week near the mean time of bud break. Early leafing is strongly correlated with midsummer shade, risk of freezing temperatures, and distribution on mesic sites across a "main spectrum" of 15 deciduous species. Differences in leaf phenology and resultant impacts on spring carbon gain may help determine tree shade tolerance and distribution in southern Appalachian forests.     

北京市绿化树种紫玉兰的蒸腾特征及其影响因素

加快的城市绿化,尤其是干旱和半干旱的温带和热带地区,对水的大量需求给未来水资源的合理利用提出了严峻挑战。了解紫玉兰蒸腾特征及环境和生物因子对蒸腾的调控有助于城市绿化树种的选择和养护。2008.5－2009.5于北京市中心教学植物园内利用热消散技术研究不同时间尺度上15年生紫玉兰（Magnolia liliflora）的耗水特征,环境因子同步监测。本研究分析了紫玉兰小时、日、月和季节尺度上的蒸腾特征。日尺度上,春夏季节紫玉兰树干液流速率呈双峰型曲线,蒸腾午休现象明显;秋季树干液流速率呈单峰型曲线,液流启动时间延后而结束时间提前;冬季树干液流速率日变化格局不明显,夜间液流速率高于白天液流速率。年内尺度上,按月份,从3月开始上升,5月达到峰值后略有下降,9月开始显著降低;按季节,春季>夏季>秋季>冬季;按物候期,从发芽到开花展叶阶段,整树耗水迅速增加,叶速生期达到最大值,休眠期整树耗水显著降低。值得注意的是：紫玉兰蒸腾午休现象明显;春季耗水型树种。一天之中总辐射和水汽压亏缺是影响紫玉兰整树耗水的主要因子;加上大气温度是日尺度和月尺度上影响紫玉兰耗水的关键因子;叶面积指数在开花展叶期是影响紫玉兰耗水的关键因子。由于城市中的适时灌溉和研究期间降水充足,土壤水分对紫玉兰的耗水几乎没有影响。     

再论中国植被分区的原则和方案

 本文首先提出中国植被分区的原则和依据以及高级分区单位的标志,将全国划分为八大植被区,其中有五个区包括两个亚区,因作者主张亚区与区作为同一级的辅助单位看待,所以实际上把全国分为13个高级植被分区单位。除少数例外,每一植被区或亚区都分为一过渡带和典型带。全文以植被区或亚区、植被地带或亚地带为单位,论述其植被特点。     

The influence of climate on patterns of termite eating in Australian mammals and lizards

Abstract The present paper examines patterns of termite eating in Australian mammals and lizards (total numbers of species, volume percentage of diet) relative to climate (arid, semi-arid, temperate-mesic). Most termite eaters in arid and semi-arid Australia are lizards. Termite consumptio as a proportion of total lizard diet decreases from arid to mesic climates. More mammal species are relatively termite specialized (>50%) in arid than in semi-arid and mesic regions. Termite consumption in echidnas resembles that of the lizards: relatively high in the arid and relatively low in the mesic zone. For the Dasyuridae, termites comprise only a minor fraction (< 10%) in their diet, irrespective of climate. It is argued that the climatic peculiarities of inland Australia (scant and variable rainfall) cause marked seasonality in termite availability, supporting specialized termite eaters in only the most energy-frugal forms (lizards, echidnas). Areas of future research are identified.