气候变化和人为活动在宁夏草地变化中的相对作用

气候变化和人为活动是草地生态系统退化或恢复过程中的两大驱动因素。选取植被净初级生产力（NPP）为衡量指标,利用改进的Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach （CASA）模型、Thornthwaite Memorial模型以及残差趋势法分别计算了宁夏草地实际净初级生产力（ANPP）、潜在净初级生产力（PNPP）和人为活动影响的生产力（HNPP）及其变化趋势,定量评估了2001-2019年气候变化和人为活动在宁夏4种类型草地（温性草甸、温性草原、温性荒漠草原和温性草原化荒漠）动态变化中的相对作用。结果表明,2001-2019年宁夏草地实际净初级生产力增加的面积占宁夏草地总面积的97.84%;全区草地潜在净初级生产力均表现为增加趋势,表明气候变化有利于植被恢复。草地恢复过程中,气候变化引起的草地恢复面积占草地恢复总面积的61.68%,气候变化和人为活动共同作用引起的草地恢复面积占38.32%;人为活动是导致草地退化的绝对主导因素。4种类型草地动态变化的驱动因素存在差异,气候变化是促进温性草甸（68.94%）和温性草原化荒漠（70.51%）恢复的主导因素,气候变化和人为活动共同作用是促进温性草原恢复的主导因素（62.30%）,温性荒漠草原的恢复是气候变化和人为活动共同作用的结果（97.93%）。水热条件好转,尤其是降水增加是宁夏草地恢复的主导气候因子,生态保护政策的实施是促进草地恢复的主要人为因素,对草地的不合理利用是导致草地退化的主要人为因素。     

玛曲县草地退牧还草工程效果评价

利用残差趋势法对玛曲县草地退牧还草工程(禁牧、休牧)效果进行了评价,即利用2000～2006年250m的MODIS16天合成NDVI产品数据及同期气象资料,建立工程区内退牧前2000～2004年两种时间尺度(年、月),3种空间尺度(县、乡镇、围栏)的NDVI值同气象要素的回归模型,并利用模型预测无该工程影响下的模拟NDVI值,分析退牧前后模拟NDVI值与实际NDVI值的残差及变化趋势,从而判断退牧还草工程对草地恢复状况的影响,及分析不同工程措施对草地恢复的作用.结果表明,退牧还草工程有利于玛曲县草地牧草生长和草地恢复,但草地恢复效果存在时空差异,退牧还草工程有助于牧草整个生育期的生长,尤其是牧草生长初期和末期效果最为显著.禁牧措施较休牧措施对于草地恢复效果更显著.整个工程区内草地总体处于恢复中,但恢复状况各有差异,一些区域草地恢复状况不理想,说明这些区域还存在较为严重的放牧或不合理放牧行为,退牧还草工程执行力度差.就各乡草地恢复状况而言,曼日玛乡草地总体恢复趋势最好,欧拉乡草地总体恢复趋势相对较差.各乡下辖各围栏区草地恢复效果显著,但个别围栏区草地仍处于恶化趋势,其中恢复效果最好的是16# 围栏区,恶化最为严重的是5#围栏区草地.     

21世纪初我国草地生态学研究展望

草地退化是我国天然草地面临的突出问题,在21世纪初期,我国的草地生态学将围绕解决草地退化这一核心问题展开深入的研究。其热点领域应在草地恢复生态学,草地界面生态学,草地放牧生态学,草地的健康诊断和草地的价值评估等5个方面。其中草地恢复生态学是治理退化草地的基础;草地界面生态学是剖析退化草地的切入点;草地放牧生态学是调控退化草地的手段;草地健康诊断有助于对草地退化进行客观评价;草地的价值评估则是对草地生态系统效益和服务的估算。     

吉林省西部与内蒙古东部农牧交错区草地退化现状及管理对策

吉林西部和内蒙古东部的农牧交错区是半湿润与半干旱气候的过渡地带,草地退化严重,主要表现为盐碱化和沙化。人为因素是导致草地退化的主要因素,人口压力和不合理利用是加速草地退化的主导因素。提出了要对现有草地开展健康诊断,对健康草地实施保护,对已受损的草地实施恢复与重建,建立科学管理制度等解决对策。     

草地生态系统服务价值评估研究综述

草地生态系统是兼有生产和生态两个功能的特殊生态系统,随着社会经济的发展,草地资源过渡开发利用,导致的区域生态问题日益突出.评价草地生态系统服务功能价值,对于保护和恢复草地生态系统,制定合理的经济开发决策,维护国家生态安全具有重要意义.文章基于相关研究文献,首先概述了草地生态系统服务价值内涵及功能分类;其次,介绍了草地生...     

青藏高原高寒草地退化与人工恢复过程中植物群落的繁殖适应对策

以三江源区不同退化程度高寒草甸和不同恢复年限人工草地作为研究对象,通过野外调查与采样、实验室分析,探究了高寒地区退化天然草地与人工恢复草地的植被群落繁殖构件数量变化.结果表明:在群落水平上,天然草地退化和人工草地建植会对植物繁殖构件的数量和生物量产生影响.随着天然草地退化程度的增加,营养枝数量和生物量则明显下降,而繁殖枝的数量和生物量明显升高(P＜0.05);随着人工草地恢复年限的增加,营养枝的数量和生物量逐渐增加,而繁殖枝的数量和生物量则逐渐降低(P＜0.05);随着恢复年限的增加,人工草地繁殖构件的变化逐渐接近未退化天然草地.在功能群水平上,植物繁殖构件数量亦随草地退化程度和人工恢复年限而变化.随着恢复年限的增加,禾本科、莎草科、杂类草的营养枝数量和生物量均呈现显著增加(P＜0.05),而繁殖枝数量和生物量则显著下降,禾本科的繁殖构件数量远远大于莎草科和杂类草;随着退化程度的增加,三大功能群的营养枝枝数和生物量显著增加(P＜0.05),而繁殖枝则呈现相反的趋势.实证了草地退化和人工恢复改变植物群落繁殖分配对策的科学假设,为高寒草地植被恢复重建技术的发展和更新提供理论支撑.     

1982—2015年气候变化和人类活动对内蒙古草地净初级生产力的影响

研究1982—2015年气候变化和人类活动对内蒙古草地净初级生产力(NPP)的影响。结果表明: 1982—1998年和1999—2015年2个时期,内蒙古草地实际NPP(ANPP)增长速率分别为1.08和1.36 g C·m^-2·a^-1,草地以恢复为主,2个时期草地恢复面积分别占研究区总面积的81.6%和76.3%;草地退化面积有增加趋势,且气候变化和人类活动对不同类型草地的影响不同。2个时期气候变化对草地恢复贡献率分别为79.3%和94.1%,气候变化是草地恢复的主要因素,其中,ANPP与降水呈显著正相关,而与温度的相关性不显著,表明降水是影响草地恢复的主要气候因子。2个时期人类活动对草地退化的贡献率分别为83.3%和87.8%,说明人类活动是导致草地退化的主要原因。气候变化对内蒙古草地恢复起主导作用,而人类活动诸如放牧数量、耕地面积和造林面积的增加,加速了草地退化。     

若尔盖高寒沙化草地恢复过程中土壤全碳和植物根系特征的变化

草地对全球碳循环和土壤碳固存的重要性越来越受到重视。我国草地约95%的碳都储存在土壤中。本研究以若尔盖高寒草地为对象,选取了未恢复、恢复1年、恢复4年、恢复8年的4块沙化草地,探究高寒草地恢复过程中土壤全碳和植物根系特征的变化。结果表明：若尔盖高寒草地土壤碳含量受恢复时间和土壤深度的影响,恢复草地的土壤全碳、有机碳和无机碳含量皆高于未恢复草地;有机碳含量在恢复8年达到最高,而无机碳则在恢复1年最高,分别是未恢复草地的7.55、11.78倍;恢复1年、恢复4年草地的土壤有机碳含量表层(0～20 cm)低于深层(20～50 cm),而恢复8年草地则是深层低于表层;而土壤无机碳无论是恢复1年、恢复4年、恢复8年的草地皆是0～5 cm土层的最高;有机碳/无机碳比为恢复4年>恢复8年>恢复1年,且深层(20～70 cm)土壤有机碳占比要高于表层(0～20 cm);根系特征(根长、根体积、组织密度和根生物量)随着恢复时间增加而增加并与土壤有机碳显著正相关(P<0.05),而与土壤无机碳含量无显著相关(P>0.05),土壤无机碳含量与pH显著正相关(P<0.05);在沙...     

青藏高原"黑土型"退化草地成因与恢复

对青藏高原“黑土型”退化草地的成因和生态建设进行评述,认为“黑土型”退化草地是草原退化生态学行为在江河源区高寒草地的特有体现形式,由气候变暖、冰川退缩、过度放牧、鼠害等综合因子共同导致。生态恢复不仅要从草地建设入手,还要对草地资源进行合理管理与规划。加强牧区文化教育投资、实行草地长期承包、加强《草原法》建设等措施是我国高寒草地畜牧业健康发展的重要保证。青藏高原生态系统特有的“惰性”特征可能是导致其草地生态系统自我更新能力差、系统结构脆弱、生态恢复困难的重要原因,应深入开展该方面研究,为青藏高原生态环境建设提供依据。     

繁殖体与微生境在退化草地恢复中的作用

退化草地的成功恢复主要依赖于种子和母株无性繁殖幼苗的有效建植 ,即草地群落中可利用繁殖体是退化草地得以恢复的内在条件。此外 ,群落中那些提供种子发芽、幼苗生长发育的适宜微生境 (safe sites/ suitable microsites) ,构成了退化草地恢复的外在条件。由于严重退化草地群落缺乏可利用繁殖体和供繁殖体生长发育的适宜微生境 ,使得退化草地恢复受到很大限制 ,因而 ,同时满足繁殖体与微生境是退化草地恢复的先决条件。人为提供繁殖体和适宜微生境可以在很大程度上提高退化草地的恢复速度 ,即在缺乏繁殖体草地群落供给繁殖体 ,或者在缺乏微生境的草地群落中创造适宜微生境。不同植物种群建植需要的环境存在着显著差异 ,因此在人工恢复草地群落过程中 ,对这些植物的繁殖体和繁殖体着床环境给予特殊处理是必需的 ,使之同时满足多种植物种群建植需求。对退化草地植物繁殖体、微生境的重要性及其涵义进行讨论     

Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland biodiversity: A meta‐analysis of grouse populations

Livestock grazing affects over 60% of the world's agricultural lands and can influence rangeland ecosystem services and the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat, resulting in changes in biodiversity. Concomitantly, livestock grazing has the potential to be detrimental to some wildlife species while benefiting other rangeland organisms. Many imperiled grouse species require rangeland landscapes that exhibit diverse vegetation structure and composition to complete their life cycle. However, because of declining populations and reduced distributions, grouse are increasingly becoming a worldwide conservation concern. Grouse, as a suite of upland gamebirds, are often considered an umbrella species for other wildlife and thus used as indicators of rangeland health. With a projected increase in demand for livestock products, better information will be required to mitigate the anthropogenic effects of livestock grazing on rangeland biodiversity. To address this need, we completed a data‐driven and systematic review of the peer‐reviewed literature to determine the current knowledge of the effects of livestock grazing on grouse populations (i.e., chick production and population indices) worldwide. Our meta‐analysis revealed an overall negative effect of livestock grazing on grouse populations. Perhaps more importantly, we identified an information void regarding the effects of livestock grazing on the majority of grouse species. Additionally, the reported indirect effects of livestock grazing on grouse species were inconclusive and more reflective of differences in the experimental design of the available studies. Future studies designed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of livestock grazing on wildlife should document (i) livestock type, (ii) timing and frequency of grazing, (iii) duration, and (iv) stocking rate. Much of this information was lacking in the available published studies we reviewed, but is essential when making comparisons between different livestock grazing management practices and their potential impacts on rangeland biodiversity.     

Sustainable Rangeland Grazing in Norse Faroe

The introduction of domestic livestock, particularly sheep, and rangeland grazing by Norse settlers to Faroe during the ninth century has generally been described as a major pressure on a sensitive landscape, leading to rapid and widespread vegetation change and contributing to land degradation. This view has, however, been developed without consideration of Norse grazing management practices which may have served to minimize grazing impacts on landscapes as well as sustaining and enhancing vegetation and livestock productivity. These alternative scenarios are considered using a historical grazing management simulation model with Faroese climate and vegetation inputs and given archaeological, historical and palaeoenvironmental parameters. Three contrasting rangeland areas are investigated and, based on the maximum number of ewe/lamb pairs the rangeland could sustain, modeling suggests that utilizable biomass declined with the onset of grazing activity, but not to a level that would cause major changes in vegetation cover or contribute to soil erosion even under climatically determined poor growth conditions. When rangeland areas partitioned into what are termed hagi and partir are modeled, grazing levels are still within rangeland carrying capacities, but productivities are variable. Some rangeland areas increase biomass and livestock productivities and biomass utilization rates while other rangeland areas that were too finely partitioned were likely to suffer substantial decline in livestock productivity. Partitioning of rangeland is a likely contributor to long-term differentiation of landscapes and the relative success of settlements across Faroe beyond the Norse period.     

Intensity of livestock grazing in relation to habitat use by brown hares (Lepus europaeus)

There is very limited information concerning livestock (sheep and goats) and brown hare Lepus europaeus interaction when both coexist. The effect of the intensity of livestock grazing on seasonal habitat use by hares, in a typical Mediterranean rangeland, was evaluated using the pellet-count method. Lightly grazed pastures were less preferred by hares compared with moderately grazed ones, whereas ungrazed pastures were used less intensively than grazed ones. Because livestock grazing reduces the quantity of standing biomass proportionally to its grazing intensity, forage resource was not the driving force for pasture selection. The increased use of moderately grazed pastures by hares in relation to lightly and ungrazed ones, where vegetation was more abundant, could be attributed to their reduced herbage height and density. This behaviour is probably a tactic that hares follow for predator avoidance, because they are more likely to detect visually approaching predators when feeding in a biotope with a limited herbaceous layer. The conclusion of this research is that livestock and brown hare coexistence may be compatible and beneficial rather than competitive when stocking rates do not exceed grazing capacity, leading to the conclusion that proper livestock grazing and hare population management can be feasible in practice.     

Rangeland utilization in Mediterranean farming systems

In the countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin, most of the semi-natural grazing lands are covered by rangelands. Rangelands can be defined as highly heterogeneous natural vegetation communities with high conservation value, growing in harsh environments (poor soils, unfavourable climatic conditions). In the recent socio-economic context, traditional livestock grazing practices that enabled one to reconcile rangeland preservation and animal production no longer apply, especially because they require labour that has become scarce and costly. The consequence is rangeland degradation, due to underutilization in Southern Europe, and overutilization in Northern Africa. We analysed issues raised by rangeland utilization in livestock farming systems of the Mediterranean basin. Based on a review of the scientific literature about rangeland utilization in this area, we argue that the best way to reconcile animal production and rangeland preservation would be to promote management practices allowing animals to express their adaptative capacities in feeding behaviour and productive response. In order to propose management practices adapted to extensive and simplified systems, we conclude that research efforts should focus on: (i) proposing a functional characterization of vegetation heterogeneity at the scale of the vegetation community, (ii) validating the criteria determining animals' foraging behaviour on Mediterranean rangelands, (iii) developing and using simulation models to test management strategies against seasonal and long-term variability in climatic conditions and (iv) evaluating the potential of modern technologies for improving rangeland utilization.     

西藏河谷地区人工种草的投入产出比较分析

分析了西藏河谷地区六种草地的经济投入、产出和生态系统服务价值,模拟了投入增加下村落草地利用结构的改变与经济、生态产出的响应。结果表明:草地恢复管理中,围栏草地成本最低,为67元/hm~2,是一年生人工刈割草地的0.9%。围栏等草地恢复管理的经济产出为772元/hm~2,其中补贴收入占14.6%,另85.4%来自打工收入;而多年生人工放牧和一年生人工刈割草地的经济产出为4250元/hm~2与13135元/hm~2。相比经济产出,不同草地管理方式下生态系统服务价值差距有限,最大仅为27%。草地投入增加下,天然放牧草地转变为围栏草地及一年生人工刈割草地,并最终保持约1∶1的面积比。合理配置围栏草地与一年生人工刈割草地,可以实现区域较大的经济收入增长和生态系统服务的保障。     

新疆阿勒泰地区草地资源可持续管理分析

通过分析新疆阿勒泰地区草地资源的利用现状,草地类型的生产性能、生态服务价值和在区域发展中的主导功能,指出分类经营是该区草地资源可持续管理的有效途径。研究表明,阿勒泰地区的草地资源在空间上可划分为生态功能区(高寒草甸和草原、沼泽、山地荒漠草原、山地草原化荒漠和部分平原荒漠),经济功能区(山地草甸,低地草甸和草甸草原)和混合功能区(山地草原、平原荒漠草原和大部分平原荒漠),在时间上可采取不同的经营策略。生态功能区经营策略是禁牧和封育,经济功能区的经营策略是通过施肥、灌溉等手段,集约化管理,提高单位面积产值I混合功能区的经营策略是以草定畜,合理轮牧。     

Comparison of biodiversity and ground cover between a commercial rotationally grazed property and an adjacent nature reserve in semi‐arid rangeland

Continuous livestock grazing can have negative effects on biodiversity and landscape function in arid and semi‐arid rangelands. Alternative grazing management practices, such as rotational grazing, may be a viable option for broad‐scale biodiversity conservation and sustainable pastoral management. This study compared ground cover, plant species composition and floristic and functional diversity along gradients of grazing intensity between a pastoral property rotationally grazed by goats and an adjacent nature reserve (ungrazed by commercial livestock) in semi‐arid south‐eastern Australia. Understorey plant species composition differed significantly between the rotationally grazed property and the nature reserve, with a greater proportion and frequency of palatable species recorded in the nature reserve. Understorey plant species richness, diversity, functional biodiversity measures and ground cover declined with increasing grazing pressure close to water points under commercial rotational grazing management. However, at a whole‐paddock scale, there were few differences in plant biodiversity and ground cover between the rotationally grazed property and the nature reserve, despite differences in overall plant species composition. Flexible, adaptive, rotational grazing should be investigated further for its potential to achieve both socio‐economic and biodiversity conservation outcomes in semi‐arid rangelands to complement existing conservation reserves.     

Grassland systems of red meat production: integration between biodiversity, plant nutrient utilisation, greenhouse gas emissions and meat nutritional quality

Government policies relating to red meat production take account of the carbon footprint, environmental impact, and contributions to human health and nutrition, biodiversity and food security. This paper reviews the impact of grazing on these parameters and their interactions, identifying those practices that best meet governments' strategic goals. The recent focus of research on livestock grazing and biodiversity has been on reducing grazing intensity on hill and upland areas. Although this produces rapid increases in sward height and herbage mass, changes in structural diversity and plant species are slower, with no appreciable short-term increases in biodiversity so that environmental policies that simply involve reductions in numbers of livestock may not result in increased biodiversity. Furthermore, upland areas rely heavily on nutrient inputs to pastures so that withdrawal of these inputs can threaten food security. Differences in grazing patterns among breeds increase our ability to manage biodiversity if they are matched appropriately to different conservation grazing goals. Lowland grassland systems differ from upland pastures in that additional nutrients in the form of organic and inorganic fertilisers are more frequently applied to lowland pastures. Appropriate management of these nutrient applications is required, to reduce the associated environmental impact. New slurry-spreading techniques and technologies (e.g. the trailing shoe) help reduce nutrient losses but high nitrogen losses from urine deposition remain a key issue for lowland grassland systems. Nitrification inhibitors have the greatest potential to successfully tackle this problem. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are lower from indoor-based systems that use concentrates to shorten finishing periods. The challenge is to achieve the same level of performance from grass-based systems. Research has shown potential solutions through the use of forages containing condensed tannins or establishing swards with a high proportion of clover and high-sugar grasses. Relative to feeding conserved forage or concentrates, grazing fresh grass not only reduces GHG emissions but also enhances the fatty acid composition of meat in terms of consumer health. It is possible to influence biodiversity, nutrient utilisation, GHG emissions and the nutritional quality of meat in grass-based systems, but each of these parameters is intrinsically linked and should not be considered in isolation. Interactions between these parameters must be considered carefully when policies are being developed, in order to ensure that strategies designed to achieve positive gains in one category do not lead to a negative impact in another. Some win-win outcomes are identified.     

The Chilean Espinal: Restoration for a Sustainable Silvopastoral System

The mediterranean habitats of central Chile are rich in endemic species, but threatened by land‐use changes. In this context, we suggest that restoration of the traditional espinal silvopastoral system could improve its sustainability and conservation value. Past research on the espinal embraced negative stereotypes of peasants, the tree Acacia caven, and the semiarid landscape to recommend abandoning the silvopastoral system. We think that recommendation is premature and ignores the value of the espinal as a classical Chilean cultural landscape. Drawing on lessons from silvopastoral systems in Latin America and the Mediterranean, here we suggest several management interventions and incentives that could be developed to restore the espinal. Particular challenges in espinal include low biomass production due to the semiarid climate and the lack of a traditional sustainable timber or non‐timber product of A. caven. Our recommendations include sustainable production and use of biochar and bark extracts from A. caven to improve espinal soils, the promotion of shrubs and the use of small mammal disturbances, and their artificial analogs to improve A. caven reproduction, and rotational livestock herding to form mosaic landscapes. These techniques could lead to higher forage biomass and increased livestock weights. Incentive structures to implement these management activities could include tax benefits for private protected area (IUCN category VI) creation, REDD+ and PES programs, along with promotion of the cultural value of the espinal. Further research is urgently called for on ecosystem services, ecological baselines, biochar, and other management and incentive structures that could be applied in the espinal.