Vegetation and soil responses to livestock grazing in Central Asian grasslands: a review of Chinese literature

Grasslands in northern China and the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau are particularly important to both ecosystem functioning and pastoral livelihoods. Although there are numerous degradation studies on the effect of livestock grazing across the region, they are largely only published in Chinese, and most focus on single sites. Based on case studies from 100 sites, covering a mean annual precipitation gradient of 95–744 mm, we present a comprehensive, internationally accessible review on the impact of livestock grazing on vegetation and soils. We compared ungrazed or slightly grazed sites with moderately and heavily grazed sites by evaluating changes in two indicator groups: vegetation (plant species richness, vegetation cover, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and root/shoot ratio) and soil (pH, bulk density, organic C, total N, total P and available P). Most indicators declined with intensified grazing, while soil pH, bulk density and belowground biomass increased. Available P showed no clear response. Variables within indicator groups were mostly linearly correlated at a given grazing intensity. Relative grazing effects on different indicators varied along specific abiotic gradients. Grazing responses of plant species richness, aboveground biomass, soil bulk density, total N and available P interacted with precipitation patterns, while grazing effects on belowground biomass were influenced by temperature. Elevation had impact on grazing responses of aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon. Complex grazing effects reflect both methodological inconsistency and ecological complexity. Further assessments should consider specific characteristics of different indicators in the context of the local environment.     

不同放牧强度下短花针茅荒漠草原植被-土壤系统有机碳组分储量特征

草地生态系统作为陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,在全球碳循环中发挥着重要作用。以内蒙古短花针茅荒漠草原不同放牧强度样地为研究对象,通过分析地上植物、凋落物、根系、土壤中有机碳和土壤轻组有机碳,研究草原植被-土壤系统有机碳组分储量的变化特征,从碳储量角度为合理利用草原提供指导。研究结果表明:(1)不同放牧强度荒漠草原地上植物碳储量为11.98—44.51 g/m~2,凋落物碳储量10.43—36.12 g/m~2,根系(0—40cm)碳储量502.30—804.31 g/m~2,且对照区(CK)均显著高于中度放牧区(MG)、重度放牧区(HG);(2)0—40cm土壤碳储量为7817.43—9694.16 g/m~2,其中轻度放牧区(LG)碳储量为9694.16 g/m~2,显著高于CK、HG(P0.05);(3)植被—土壤系统的碳储量为8342.14—10494.80 g/m~2,LGMGCKHG,有机碳主要储存于土壤当中,占比约90.54%—93.71%,适度放牧利用有利于发挥草地生态系统的碳汇功能;(4)土壤轻组有机碳储量为484.20—654.62 g/m~2,LG储量最高,表明适度放牧有助于草原土壤营养物质的循环和积累。     

小尺度高寒湿地放牧干扰格局——以纳帕海湿地为例

高寒湿地放牧干扰强烈,是其生态系统退化的主因。湿地植被生物量空间格局不仅能够反映自然因素的作用,也能够体现地域放牧等人类活动的主要特征,因此常作为表征放牧干扰格局的主要度量方法。但尺度效应导致的植被生物量影响要素在不同空间尺度下存在较大差异,尤其是针对面积为几十至几百km²范围的小尺度高寒湿地而言,自然因素和放牧等人为干扰对其植被地上生物量的共同作用特征仍不明确,缺乏针对该类型湿地的合理评估模式。以滇西北国际重要湿地纳帕海为例,在排除其它人为干扰的条件下,通过植被地上生物量的空间异质性特征来表征其放牧干扰格局,并以该案例为基础提出一种小尺度高寒湿地放牧干扰格局评估模式。研究尝试基于详细地面植被调查,获得潜在植被地上生物量,利用调查同时期高分定量遥感方法(法国PLEIADES卫星数据结合实测植被地上生物量建模)获得实际植被地上生物量,并使用潜在与实际植被地上生物量之差的空间异质性特征表示纳帕海湿地放牧干扰格局。该评估模式可以有效减少对于小尺度湿地放牧干扰数据的依赖,同时减少牛羊马等大牲畜散养带来的空间分布随机性。研究结果显示纳帕海湿地放牧干扰对湿地植被地上生物量的影响严重,影响比例约为93.5%。研究发现水文等自然因素和放牧等人为干扰分别决定纳帕海湿地植被地上生物量的上限和下限,并基于此提出四方面干扰调控策略。     

高寒草地植物群落地上-地下净初级生产力权衡

植物生产力分配和权衡是植物生态学研究中的热点,反映植物对环境的适应性,是了解植物响应全球气候变化的关键。青藏高原作为气候变化敏感区,研究其植物地上与地下部分权衡对了解高寒草地植被生存策略和生态系统可持续发展具有重要意义。目前,生物量分配调控机制已被广泛研究,但主要使用植物根冠比和地上-地下生物量比等方法来表征植物分配模式,缺乏考虑因植物生长周期导致的差异。使用青藏高原高寒草地103个样点的地上和地下净初级生产力数据,分析高寒草甸和高寒草原两种主要草地类型的地上-地下净初级生产力权衡关系。利用气候因素和土壤因素等相关数据,结合方差分析、相关分析、相对重要性分析和结构方程模型的方法,探究环境因素对两种草地类型地上-地下净初级生产力权衡的影响机制。研究发现：（1）高寒草甸的地上净初级生产力、地下净初级生产力和土壤养分含量显著高于高寒草原（P<0.05）;（2）高寒草地植被生产力均向地下权衡（0.0199）,且高寒草原（0.0354）的权衡值高于高寒草甸（0.0173）;（3）结构方程模型发现,年平均降水量、土壤容重和土壤速效氮含量是影响高寒草甸生产力权衡的主导因子,而年平均温度和年平均降水量是影响高寒草原生产力权衡的主导因子。研究表明高寒草甸的生产力权衡主要受气候和土壤因素共同影响,而高寒草原主要受气候因素调节。研究为理解植物地上-地下生物量分配调控机制提供了新的视角和方法,对系统了解高寒草地生物量分配模式和准确预测高寒草地植被动态过程具有指导意义。     

放牧干扰下高寒草甸物种和生活型丰富度与地上及地下生物量的关系

明晰放牧干扰下高寒草甸植物丰富度与生物量的相关关系,为草地植物不同生长时期生物量的预测提供依据。设置6个放牧强度样地,连续3a放牧,2014年进行3个季节(6月、8月、10月)的植物丰富度和地上、地下生物量调查,对比分析放牧干扰下物种和生活型丰富度(生活型的种类)分别与地上、地下生物量的相关关系。结果表明:(1)物种和生活型丰富度与地上生物量均受放牧强度的显著影响,物种丰富度仅在8月与放牧强度显著负相关,生活型丰富度在10月随放牧强度单峰变化,地上生物量在不同季节均与放牧强度显著负相关,而地下生物量与放牧强度无关。(2)物种丰富度与地上和地下生物量均受季节的显著影响,物种丰富度和地上生物量仅在低强度放牧区随季节呈单峰变化,地下生物量在中等强度放牧区随季节呈单峰变化;生活型丰富度与季节无关。(3)放牧干扰前物种和生活型丰富度与地上和地下生物量均显著正相关。3a放牧后仅在8月,物种丰富度只与地上生物量显著正相关,生活型丰富度与地上和地下生物量均显著正相关。(4)对于不同放牧强度,物种丰富度仅在低强度放牧区与地上生物量显著正相关,而生活型丰富度在所有放牧强度区均与地上生物量显著正相关。综上所述,放牧干扰扰乱了高寒草甸丰富度与生物量之间的关系,尤其影响了物种丰富度与地下生物量之间的相关关系。生活型丰富度与地上生物量之间的显著关系不受放牧强度干扰,使生活型丰富度在预测生物量方面表现出优势。     

黄土高原半干旱区退化草地恢复与利用过程研究

草地退化表现为土壤和植被遭到彻底破坏,草地演替过程受到强烈抑制.实验采用长期(30年)封禁措施,定位监测退化草地从次生半裸地演变为近似原生植被(进展演替)的变化过程.结果表明,随着封禁时间的变化,退化草地恢复演替经历了4个阶段,群落盖度、植株密度、物种丰富度和多样性指数、地上生物量和地下生物量在草地群落恢复过程中逐渐增加,其特征变化出现的峰值均在封禁第20年(地下生物量峰值在第15年),其中地上生物量最高达520.5 g/m2;直到封禁的第20~25年,以本氏针茅为建群种的草原群落衰败退化现象明显,而大针茅种群密度剧增;在封禁的第26年以上以大针茅为优势的群落生长较为稳定,从目前群落演替进程看,大针茅有替代本氏针茅的趋势.另外,在草原沟道两侧以斑块状聚集分布有中旱生灌木,群落的演替进入了一个新的阶段.随着封禁时间的延续,退化草地从自然封禁恢复的0~26年,通过侵入-竞争-扩散-定居的几个演替阶段,目前形成以大针茅为建群种相对稳定的"亚顶级".虽然草地生物量有一定下降,但草地质量提高,物种多样性丰富,促进草地的进展演替.草地植物群落主要由禾本科、豆科和菊科组成;多年生植物、C3和旱生物种可以作为草地演替过程和植被恢复的指示物种.长期封育对草地物种更新和生态系统稳定性有负面影响,因此,合理的封育时间是草地生态恢复中非常重要的一个因素.本研究提出,在黄土区退化草地封育10~15年后可以开始进行合理的利用,例如通过两年一次刈割和轻度放牧(2只羊/hm2).本研究可为干旱区、半干旱区相似的退化草地恢复提供理论依据.     

Impact of management practices on the tallgrass prairie

Summary The ELM ecosystem-level grassland model simulates the flow of water, heat, nitrogen, and phosphorus through the ecosystem and the biomass dynamics of plants, consumers, and the decomposers. This model was adapted to a tallgrass prairie site in northeastern Oklahoma, USA, the Osage Site of the U.S. International Biological Program Grassland Biome. Several range management manipulations were simulated by the model and the results compared to field data and literature information: (1) altering the grazing intensity, grazing system, and grazing time period; (2) adding nitrogen and phosphorus to the grassland; (3) adding water during the growing season; and (4) spring burning of the prairie.The model showed that cattle weight gain per head, above-ground and belowground plant production, transpiration water loss, standing dead biomass, and the net nitrogen balance decrease with increasing grazing intensity, while soil water content and bare soil water loss increase. A moderately stocked year-round cow-calf grazing system is more beneficial to the grassland than a more highly stocked seasonal steer grazing system because the former increases the aboveground and belowground primary production and the plant nutrient uptake rates. Range manipulations, such as fire, which stimulate uniform grazing of a pasture, increase primary production, cattle weight gains, and nutrient uptake of plants and animals. Model results indicated that adding fertilizer was the best strategy for increasing cattle weight gains per head, while adding water would produce the greatest increase in primary production. Simulation of yearly and triennial spring burns suggests that these treatments increase primary production, plant nutrient uptake, and cattle weight gain per head. Burning increases the nitrogen losses from the systems; however, these losses are greater with annual burns. The model results also suggest the spatial grazing pattern of cattle must be considered to correctly represent the impact of grazing on the prairie.The model is used to describe the behavior of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, evaluate alternative management strategies, and identify future scientific research and management studies.     

Response of plant biomass to nitrogen addition and precipitation increasing under different climate conditions and time scales in grassland

生产力是草地生态系统重要的服务功能, 而生物量作为生态系统生产力的主要组成部分, 往往同时受到氮和水分两个因素的限制。在全球变化背景下, 研究草地生态系统生物量对氮沉降增加和降水变化的响应具有重要意义, 但现有研究缺乏对其在大区域空间尺度以及长时间尺度上响应的综合评估和量化。本研究搜集了1990-2017年间发表论文的有关模拟氮沉降及降水变化研究的相关数据, 进行整合分析, 探讨草地生态系统生物量对氮沉降和降水量两个因素的变化在空间和时间尺度上的响应。结果表明: (1)氮添加、增雨处理以及同时增氮增雨处理都能够显著地提高草地生态系统的地上生物量(37%, 41%, 104%)、总生物量(32%, 23%, 60%)和地上地下生物量比(29%, 25%, 46%)。单独增雨显著提高地下生物量(10%), 单独施氮对地下生物量影响不显著, 但同时增雨则能显著提高地下生物量(43%); (2)氮添加和增雨处理对草地生态系统生物量的影响存在明显的空间变异。在温暖性气候区和海洋性气候区的草地生态系统中, 氮添加对地上、总生物量及地上地下生物量比的促进作用更强, 而在寒冷性气候区和温带大陆性气候区的草地生态系统中, 则增雨处理对地下、总生物量的促进作用更强; (3)草地生态系统生物量对氮添加和增雨处理的响应也存在时间格局上的变化, 地下生物量随着氮添加年限的增加有降低的趋势, 地上、总生物量及地上地下生物量比则有增加的趋势。增雨年限的增加对总生物量没有明显的影响, 但持续促进地上生物量和地下生物量, 增加地上地下生物量比, 可见长期增氮、长期增雨对地上生物量的促进作用更明显。     

日本中部不同放牧条件下人工草地地上枯死量的时间变化*

日本国立草地研究所位于日本中部的西那须地区,为了提示草地生态系统的能流和碳循环与气象因素与人为干扰之间的关系的规律,在其所辖人工草地的放牧试验场内,自1974a至1994a间,进行了不同放牧条件的长期实验。对该人工草地在21a间的地上枯死量(包括立枯部和地面凋落物)随时间变化规律以及不同放牧处理(不同放牧强度和施肥量)对其影响进行了评价和分析。结果表明,地上立枯部分和凋落物的量随季节和年度变化很大,并与地上部现存生物量有显著的正相关关系;协方差分析结果表明放牧压力、季节和年度等变化因素对地上立枯部分和凋落物的量有着极强的影响(p<0.01),而施肥量的影响则无显著性差异。     

Response of plant biomass to nitrogen addition and precipitation increasing under different climate conditions and time scales in grassland北大核心CSCD

Aims Plant biomass accounts for the main part of grassland productivity. The productivity of grassland regarded as one of important ecosystem function is always co-limited by nitrogen and water availability, therefore, how grasslands respond to atmosphic nitrogen (N) addition and precipitation increasing need to be systematically and quantitatively evaluated at different climate conditions and temporal scales. Methods To investigate the impact of nitrogen addition and precipitation increasing on grassland biomass over climate conditions and temproal scales, a meta-analysis was conducted based on 46 papers that were published during 1990-2017 involving 1 350 observations. Important findings Results showed that: (1) N addtion, precipitation increasing and the combinations of these two treatments significantly increased the aboveground biomass (37%, 41%, 104%), total biomass (32%, 23%, 60%) and the ratio of aboveground biomass to belowground biomass (29%, 25%, 46%) in grassland ecosystem. Belowground biomass showed no response to single N addtion, but could be significantly enhanced together with increaseing precipitation; (2) The response of grassland biomass under these N addtion and the increasing of precipitation showed obvious spatial pattern under different climate conditions. The N addition tended to increase more aboveground biomass, total biomass and the ratio of aboveground biomass to belowground biomass under high sites with high mean annual air temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) while precipitation increasing tended to simulate more belowground biomass and total biomass under low MAT and MAP sites; (3) In addition, the response of grassland biomass under these two global change index showed obvious temporal pattern. With the increase of duration of N addition, the belowgound biomass tended to decrease, while the aboveground biomass, total biomass and the ratio of aboveground biomass to belowground biomass tended to increase under N addition. With the increase of duration of precipitation manipulation, the total biomass showed no response to precipitation increasing, while aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and the ratio of aboveground biomass to belowground biomass tended to be enhanced. The results indicated that aboveground biomass was more likely to be enhanced than belowground biomass under N addition or precipitation increasing in the long term. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All rights reserved.     

Effects of plant evolution on nutrient cycling couple aboveground and belowground processes

Plant strategies for nutrient acquisition and recycling are key components of ecosystem functioning. How the evolution of such strategies modifies ecosystem functioning and services is still not well understood. In the present work, we aim at understanding how the evolution of different phenotypic traits link aboveground and belowground processes, thereby affecting the functioning of the ecosystem at different scales and in different realms. Using a simple model, we follow the dynamics of a limiting nutrient inside an ecosystem. Considering trade-offs between aboveground and belowground functional traits, we study the effects of the evolution of such strategies on ecosystem properties (amount of mineral nutrient, total plant biomass, dead organic matter, and primary productivity) and whether such properties are maximized. Our results show that when evolution leads to a stable outcome, it minimizes the quantity of nutrient available (following Tilman’s R* rule). We also show that considering the evolution of aboveground and belowground functional traits simultaneously, total plant biomass and primary productivity are not necessarily maximized through evolution. The coupling of aboveground and belowground processes through evolution may largely diminish predicted standing biomass and productivity (extinction may even occur) and impact the evolutionary resilience (i.e., the return time to previous phenotypic states) of the ecosystem in the face of external disturbances. We show that changes in plant biomass and their effects on evolutionary change can be understood by accounting for the links between nutrient uptake and mineralization, and for indirect effects of nutrient uptake on the amount of detritus in the system.     

草地生态系统生物量在不同气候及多时间尺度上对氮添加和增雨处理的响应

生产力是草地生态系统重要的服务功能, 而生物量作为生态系统生产力的主要组成部分, 往往同时受到氮和水分两个因素的限制。在全球变化背景下, 研究草地生态系统生物量对氮沉降增加和降水变化的响应具有重要意义, 但现有研究缺乏对其在大区域空间尺度以及长时间尺度上响应的综合评估和量化。本研究搜集了1990-2017年间发表论文的有关模拟氮沉降及降水变化研究的相关数据, 进行整合分析, 探讨草地生态系统生物量对氮沉降和降水量两个因素的变化在空间和时间尺度上的响应。结果表明: (1)氮添加、增雨处理以及同时增氮增雨处理都能够显著地提高草地生态系统的地上生物量(37%, 41%, 104%)、总生物量(32%, 23%, 60%)和地上地下生物量比(29%, 25%, 46%)。单独增雨显著提高地下生物量(10%), 单独施氮对地下生物量影响不显著, 但同时增雨则能显著提高地下生物量(43%); (2)氮添加和增雨处理对草地生态系统生物量的影响存在明显的空间变异。在温暖性气候区和海洋性气候区的草地生态系统中, 氮添加对地上、总生物量及地上地下生物量比的促进作用更强, 而在寒冷性气候区和温带大陆性气候区的草地生态系统中, 则增雨处理对地下、总生物量的促进作用更强; (3)草地生态系统生物量对氮添加和增雨处理的响应也存在时间格局上的变化, 地下生物量随着氮添加年限的增加有降低的趋势, 地上、总生物量及地上地下生物量比则有增加的趋势。增雨年限的增加对总生物量没有明显的影响, 但持续促进地上生物量和地下生物量, 增加地上地下生物量比, 可见长期增氮、长期增雨对地上生物量的促进作用更明显。     

Grazing intensity significantly affects belowground carbon and nitrogen cycling in grassland ecosystems: a meta‐analysis

Livestock grazing activities potentially alter ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in grassland ecosystems. Despite the fact that numerous individual studies and a few meta‐analyses had been conducted, how grazing, especially its intensity, affects belowground C and N cycling in grasslands remains unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive meta‐analysis of 115 published studies to examine the responses of 19 variables associated with belowground C and N cycling to livestock grazing in global grasslands. Our results showed that, on average, grazing significantly decreased belowground C and N pools in grassland ecosystems, with the largest decreases in microbial biomass C and N (21.62% and 24.40%, respectively). In contrast, belowground fluxes, including soil respiration, soil net N mineralization and soil N nitrification increased by 4.25%, 34.67% and 25.87%, respectively, in grazed grasslands compared to ungrazed ones. More importantly, grazing intensity significantly affected the magnitude (even direction) of changes in the majority of the assessed belowground C and N pools and fluxes, and C : N ratio as well as soil moisture. Specifically,light grazing contributed to soil C and N sequestration whereas moderate and heavy grazing significantly increased C and N losses. In addition, soil depth, livestock type and climatic conditions influenced the responses of selected variables to livestock grazing to some degree. Our findings highlight the importance of the effects of grazing intensity on belowground C and N cycling, which may need to be incorporated into regional and global models for predicting effects of human disturbance on global grasslands and assessing the climate‐biosphere feedbacks.     

放牧扰动下高寒草甸植物多样性、生产力对土壤养分条件变化的响应

为了揭示高寒小嵩草草甸群落在放牧扰动下,探讨土壤养分供给水平的变化对生态系统初级生产力和多样性影响,为高寒草地的退化演替机理研究提供依据,以野外样地调查和室内分析法研究了放牧扰动下高寒草甸植物多样性、生产力对土壤养分条件变化的响应.结果表明,放牧干扰不仅改变了高寒小蒿草草甸群落土壤根系和蕴育土壤根系的"载体"量及根土比例,改变了植物群落的结构和功能,而且使土壤的物理和化学特性发生了明显的改变.随着放牧强度的增加,蕴育土壤根系的基质量逐渐减少,根土比特别是0～10 cm土层的根土比例增加;"载体"量减少导致大部分地下根系由于营养供给水平的降低而死亡,归还土壤中有机质的数量逐渐减少,加之地上部分持续利用,土壤养分也在不断消耗,土壤基质量的减少和土壤资源持续供给能力的下降,草地发生逆向演替(退化),表现在:物种数减少、多样性下降、能量的分配转向地下等;土壤性状上的某些改变(土壤容重、土壤湿度等),也会引起植被组成、物种多样性变化;放牧主要通过影响土壤环境及其养分含量来改变草地群落生物量(地上、地下);土壤表面的适度干扰和原有植物的适度破坏为新成员提供了小生境,从而允许新的植物侵入群落,并提高了植物的丰富度.但是,在受到强度干扰时,草地植物群落的主要物种的优势地位发生明显的替代变化.     

Soil microbial responses to fire and interacting global change factors in a California annual grassland

Wildfire in California annual grasslands is an important ecological disturbance and ecosystem control. Regional and global climate changes that affect aboveground biomass will alter fire-related nutrient loading and promote increased frequency and severity of fire in these systems. This can have long-term impacts on soil microbial dynamics and nutrient cycling, particularly in N-limited systems such as annual grasslands. We examined the effects of a low-severity fire on microbial biomass and specific microbial lipid biomarkers over 3?years following a fire at the Jasper Ridge Global Change Experiment. We also examined the impact of fire on the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), specifically Nitrosospira Cluster 3a ammonia-oxidizers, and nitrification rates 9?months post-fire. Finally, we examined the interactive effects of fire and three other global change factors (N-deposition, precipitation and CO₂) on plant biomass and soil microbial communities for three growing seasons after fire. Our results indicate that a low-severity fire is associated with earlier season primary productivity and higher soil-NH₄ ⁺ concentrations in the first growing season following fire. Belowground productivity and total microbial biomass were not influenced by fire. Diagnostic microbial lipid biomarkers, including those for Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, were reduced by fire 9- and 21-months post-fire, respectively. All effects of fire were indiscernible by 33-months post-fire, suggesting that above and belowground responses to fire do not persist in the long-term and that these grassland communities are resilient to fire disturbance. While N-deposition increased soil NH₄ ⁺, and thus available NH₃, AOB abundance, nitrification rates and Cluster 3a AOB, similar increases in NH₃ in the fire plots did not affect AOB or nitrification. We hypothesize that this difference in response to N-addition involves a mediation of P-limitation as a result of fire, possibly enhanced by increased plant competition and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi–plant associations after fire.     

放牧胁迫下沙质草地植被的受损过程

通过在科尔沁沙地为期5a的放牧试验,分析探讨了过牧条件下沙质草地植被的受损过程。试验结果表明,持续过牧下,植被严重受损。其基本过程是,随着植物茎叶被大量啃食,草地群落盖度、高度和地上现存生物量急剧下降,连续过牧5a已分别较禁牧区低82．1％、94．0％和97．9％。但草地的净初级生产力(现存生物量 家畜采食量)下降幅度较小,第5年仍为禁牧的49．5％,而其被家畜啃食的净牧草量与现存生物量的比值高达23：1,远远高于中牧和轻牧的1：1和0．3：1水平。过牧下,物种丰富度、植物多样性和均匀度也急剧下降。第5年分别为禁牧区的35．0％、29．8％和45．9％,家畜喜食的多年生和1年生植物被不喜食的1年生植物所取代,劣质牧草比例达到86％,草地生活型趋于简单。随着地上净初级生产力的下降,地下生物量也趋于下降．根层分布浅层化。在这一退化过程的后期,由于地面裸露,风沙活动强烈,植被退化进程加速,这和草甸草原植被放牧所引起的退化存在明显区别。轻牧和中牧对草地群落盖度、高度和现存生物量也有很大影响．但试验期内对草地物种丰富度和植物多样性尚未产生明显影响。     

放牧管理模式对高寒草甸鼢鼠鼠丘群落演替的影响

高寒草甸放牧利用下高原鼢鼠(Eospalax baileyi)等危害的发生是草地管理的关键难题,分析放牧管理模式对鼢鼠鼠丘植被群落演替的影响能为草地管理提供重要依据。研究选择划区轮牧(RG)、生长季休牧(GSG)、连续放牧(CG)和禁牧(PG)4种放牧管理模式,以及各模式下不同年限鼠丘(一年(ZM1)、两年(ZM2)、三年(ZM3)和多年鼠丘(ZMM))与对照(CM)草地。分析不同放牧管理模式对鼠丘植被群落特征和生物量等的影响,结果发现:PG和GSG下所有年限鼠丘的植被高度、地上生物量均高于RG和CG;RG和GSG下ZM1和ZM2物种Shannon-wiener指数均高于对照样地物种Shannon-wiener指数。主成分分析表明:RG下地上生物量和物种丰富度指数是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要因子,PG下地上生物量、盖度、Shannon-wiener指数和均匀度指数是鼠丘植被群落演替的重要因子,CG下物种丰富度和重要值是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要指标,GSG下Shannon-wiener指数、盖度和高度是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要指标。可见,不同放牧制度对鼠丘植被群落演替的影响不同,禁牧和生长季休牧管理模式能够较好地恢复鼠丘植被群落演替。     

放牧对贝加尔针茅草原群落植物多样性和生产力的影响

研究了不同放牧强度对贝加尔针茅草原群落植物多样性和生产力的影响。结果表明,在牧压梯度上,不同的植物表现出不同的生态适应对策,贝加尔针茅种群随着牧压的增加,种群株丛破碎化、小型化,羊草耐牧性较强,在中牧阶段生产力最高。群落初级生产力随着放牧强度的增加逐渐下降。较大的放牧压力下,群落中适口性差、耐牧的杂类草植物渐趋增加。而在更大的放牧压力下,群落逐步被耐牧的小丛生禾草、旱生小苔草、小灌木和灌木所替代。草地群落的稳定性随着放牧强度增加逐渐降低。放牧干扰对群落植物多样性和生产力及其稳定性的影响是不同步的,不对称的。植物群落初级生产力对放牧干扰的响应更迅速,变化更剧烈。     

Effects of enclosure on carbon density of plant-soil system in typical steppe and desert steppe in Nei Mongol,China

草地生态系统是巨大的碳库, 在全球碳循环中起着重要的作用。该研究以内蒙古中温带草地区典型草原和荒漠草原为研究对象, 测定了两种草原类型围封与放牧后地上生物量碳密度、地下生物量碳密度和土壤碳密度, 探讨围封对两种草原类型植被-土壤系统碳密度的影响。结果表明: (1)围封显著地增加了典型草原地上和地下生物量的碳密度, 对荒漠草原地上生物量碳密度增加影响显著, 对地下生物量碳密度增加影响不显著; (2)围封显著地增加了典型草原土壤碳密度, 使荒漠草原土壤碳密度有增加的趋势, 但影响不显著; (3)典型草原围封样地地下生物量和土壤碳密度的垂直分布显著高于放牧样地, 而荒漠草原围封样地地下生物量和土壤碳密度的垂直分布与放牧样地的差异不显著; (4)围封分别提高了典型草原和荒漠草原植被-土壤系统碳密度的2.2倍和1.6倍, 典型草原和荒漠草原分别有超过65%和89%的碳储存在土壤中, 两种草原类型的地下生物量碳库均占总生物量碳库的90%以上。研究结果表明围封能够有效地增加草原生态系统的碳储量。     

Global vegetation models: incorporating transient changes to structure and composition

Abstract. We describe an approach for developing a Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (DGVM) that accounts for transient changes in vegetation distribution over a decadal time scale. The DGVM structure is based on a linkage between an equilibrium global vegetation model and smaller scale ecosystem dynamics modules that simulate the rate of vegetation change. Vegetation change is classified into four basic types, based largely on the projected change in above-ground biomass of the vegetation. These four types of change are: (1) dieback of forest, shrubland or grassland; (2) successional replacement within forest, shrubland or grassland; (3) invasion of forest, shrubland or grassland; (4) change in tree/grass ratio. We then propose an approach in which the appropriate ecosystem dynamics module for each type of change is applied and the grid cells of the global model updated accordingly. An approach for accounting for fire, as an example of a disturbance which may strongly influence the rate and spatial pattern of forest dieback, is incorporated. We also discuss data needs for the development, calibration and validation of the model.