放牧和模拟增温对藏北高寒草地植物群落特征及生产力的影响

气候变化和放牧活动对草地植物物种多样性和生产力具有重要影响。为探索藏北高寒草地植物物种多样性和生产力对增温、放牧及其交互作用的响应, 于2011年在藏北高原开始建立增温实验平台, 2016年起增设放牧、增温+放牧实验, 连续2年(2016-2017年)观测了植物群落特征、群落组成、生产力和物种多样性。结果表明, 增温和放牧对高寒草地植物高度和净初级生产力具有显著交互作用。在放牧条件下, 增温对植物高度无显著影响; 但在不放牧条件下, 增温却显著增加了植物高度。在放牧条件下, 增温对净初级生产力的影响存在年际差异, 2016年增温对生产力无显著影响, 2017年增温显著降低了植物净初级生产力; 但在不放牧条件下, 增温对植物净初级生产力无显著影响。增温和放牧对高寒草地植物物种丰富度、盖度、重要值及多样性均无显著交互作用。植物盖度在增温和放牧条件下显著降低, 杂类草物种比例显著增加, 但物种多样性均无显著变化。研究表明, 增温和放牧显著改变高寒草地群落结构。未来气候变化条件下, 放牧活动加剧有可能导致高寒草地生产力降低。     

Trade-offs between water yield and carbon sequestration for sub-alpine catchments in western Sichuan,China

Aims There is increasing concern on the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water yield of forest ecosystems. Our objective was to explore the effects of vegetation composition on water and carbon trade-off in the sub-alpine watersheds of western Sichuan during 1982-2006.Methods The WaSSI-C, which is an eco-hydrological model with coupled water and carbon cycles, was employed to calculate the key components in water balance and carbon sequestration for the 22 sub-catchments in the upper reaches of Zagunao River. Spearman’s Rho trend analysis was used to examine the trends in runoff and net ecosystem productivity. Important findings Compared with either subalpine meadow or mixed forest dominated catchments, the conifer-dominated catchments had much higher water loss due to high evapotranspiration, and the loss was not offset by its higher soil water infiltration during the growing season. The change in soil water storage for subalpine meadow, mixed forest and coniferous forest are -44 mm, -18 mm and -5 mm, respectively, which indicated significant decline in soil water storage and thus water yield particularly in alpine meadow catchments. Significant negative relationship was found between runoff and net ecosystem productivity, the alpine meadow as the dominant vegetation type showed high water yield and low carbon sequestration, and the conifer-dominant and mixed forest vegetation showed low water yield and high carbon sequestration, moreover, the higher the forest coverage, the lower the water yield. Upward trends in net ecosystem productivity were observed in the three vegetation types during the study period and the alpine meadow type was significant.     

高寒草甸退化过程中群落生产力和物种多样性的非线性响应机制研究

为了阐释青藏高原高寒草甸退化的关键生态过程, 该研究依托藏北高原草地生态系统研究站(那曲站), 设置不同退化梯度实验, 即对照、轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化和极度退化5个梯度, 探究群落生产力和物种多样性对不同退化强度的响应机制。结果表明: 1)随着退化程度不断加剧, 地上生物量呈现线性或非线性增加趋势, 在重度退化处理下, 地上生物量显著高于对照32.3%, 其中高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)地上生物量呈非线性下降趋势, 而矮火绒草(Leontopodium nanum)地上生物量呈非线性增加趋势; 2)与地上生物量的响应模式相反, 随着退化程度加剧, 地下生物量与总生物量均呈现非线性降低趋势; 3)高寒草甸退化过程中, 物种辛普森指数、丰富度指数、香农多样性指数和均匀度指数均呈现非线性上升趋势。结构等式方程结果表明, 土壤碳含量和体积含水量与地下生物量均呈现显著的正相关关系。土壤碳含量、体积含水量和砾石质量比对地上生物量无显著影响, 土壤碳、氮含量与物种多样性指数呈现显著的负相关关系。研究认为地上生产力的变化不能很好地指示草地的退化程度, 建议今后研究应以可食性牧草和毒杂草等植物功能群的变化来衡量草地退化。     

Alpine grassland water use efficiency based on annual precipitation,growing season precipitation and growing season evapotranspiration

Water use efficiency (WUE) is an important parameter to understand the coupling between the water, and carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. Previous studies on the grassland ecosystem WUE on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau mainly based on annual precipitation (AP). However, vegetation water use mainly occurs in growing season. Therefore, we aimed to explore the differences of ecosystem WUE between alpine meadow and alpine steppe, and the relationships between ecosystem WUE and environmental factors from 2000 to 2010, using annual precipitation use efficiency (PUE_a), growing season precipitation use efficiency (PUE_gs), growing season water use efficiency (WUE_gs) based on AP, growing season precipitation (GSP) and growing season evapotranspiration (ET_gs ) respectively. Combining satellite-derived above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP), satellite-derived evapotranspiration and meteorological data from 2000 to 2010, we calculated PUE_a (ANPP / AP), PUE_gs (ANPP / GSP) and WUE_gs (ANPP / ET_gs) to find the differences of PUE_a, PUE_gs and WUE_gs between alpine meadow and alpine steppe. Moreover, we explored the relationships between PUE_a, PUE_gs or WUE_gs and precipitation (or evapotranspiration) or air temperature. We found that (1) the PUE_a and PUE_gs of alpine meadow were higher than that of alpine steppe, but there were no significant difference between WUE_gs of the two grassland types, indicating that there may be similar intrinsic water use efficiencies of the two grassland types. (2) The inter-annual variation of PUE_a and PUE_gs were similar while WUE_gs showed a larger fluctuation, implying that ET-based WUE_gs was more sensitive than precipitation-based PUE_a and PUE_gs, therefore WUE_gs is a better indicator of ecosystem water use efficiency than PUE_a or PUE_gs. (3) The PUE_a, PUE_gs and WUE_gs were negatively correlated with AP, GSP and ET_gs respectively, reflecting a consistency of the three water use efficiency measurements. In the alpine steppe, only WUE_gs was observed positively correlated with air temperature among the three measurements, but in the alpine meadow, no significant relationships between water use efficiency and air temperature was detected, suggesting that the WUE_gs of alpine steppe was more sensitive to air temperature than that of alpine meadow.     

Nonlinear responses of productivity and diversity of alpine meadow communities to degradation北大核心CSCD

Aims The alpine meadow degradation could have profound effects on the grassland productivity. The aim of our study is to clarify the dynamic response of community productivity and species diversity in the process of alpine meadow degradation. Methods In the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northern Tibetan Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (Nagqu station), we conducted stages experiments with multiple degradation levels: control, mild degraded meadow, moderate degraded meadow, severe degraded meadow and serious sandy meadow. Important findings The response of aboveground biomass to alpine meadow degradation showed a linear or nonlinear increased response patterns, but the belowground biomass and total biomass decreased nonlinearly. As observed in measurement of aboveground biomass, Margalef index, Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou evenness index also exhibit a nonlinear increased response to degradation. The results of structural equation models showed that belowground biomass has a positive relationship with soil carbon content (p < 0.05) and volume water content (p < 0.1). However, soil nutrient and soil physical properties had no significant impact on aboveground biomass (p < 0.1). Compared with soil physical properties, soil nutrition is an important factor influencing the diversity index. In our study, the nonlinear responses of productivity and diversity of alpine meadow were described by using the multiple levels of degradation in space. The results suggested that aboveground productivity cannot interpret the degree of degradation of alpine meadow, and by contrast, alpine meadow degradation should be measured by the change of plant functional groups, such as edible grasses and poisonous forbs. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All rights reserved.     

Effects of the spreading of Ligularia virgaurea on soil physicochemical property and microbial functional diversity

黄帚橐吾(Ligularia virgaurea)是高寒草甸退化的指示物种, 其种群扩张已严重影响了草地生态系统的经济服务功能, 但目前仍不明确土壤微生物是否参与了黄帚橐吾的种群扩张。该研究依托兰州大学高寒草甸试验站, 选择了4个不同密度的黄帚橐吾斑块, 分析了黄帚橐吾种群扩张对该草甸土壤微生物功能多样性的影响。结果显示: 黄帚橐吾种群扩张虽然提高了土壤微生物活性, 但降低了土壤速效氮浓度。各斑块间土壤微生物Shannon指数、碳源利用种类、均一度指数均无显著差异, 但高密度斑块的土壤微生物碳源利用结构与对照斑块有显著差异。表明黄帚橐吾分布地土壤微生物功能多样性的改变所引起的土壤氮素限制是黄帚橐吾种群数量急剧增加的机制之一。     

Effects of experimental warming on plant reproductive phenology in Xizang alpine meadow

Aims Climate warming strongly influences reproductive phenology of plants in alpine and arctic ecosystems. Here we focus on phenological shifts caused by warming in a typical alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Our objective was to explore phenological responses of alpine plant species to experimental warming. Methods Passive warming was achieved using open-top chambers (OTCs). The treatments included control (C), and four levels of warming (T1, T2, T3, T4). We selected Kobresia pygmaea, Potentilla saundersiana, Potentilla cuneata, Stipa purpurea, Festuca coelestis and Youngia simulatrix as the focal species. Plant phenology was scored every 3-5 days in the growing season. The reproductive phenology phases of each species were estimated through fitting the phenological scores to the Richards function. Important findings Under soil water stress caused by warming, most plants in the alpine meadow advanced or delayed their reproductive events. As a result, warming significantly delayed phenological development of K. pygmaea. Warming significantly advanced reproductive phenology of P. saundersiana, S. purpurea and F. coelestis, but not of P. cuneata and Y. simulatrix. In addition, warming significantly shortened the average flowering duration of alpine plant species. The potentially warmer and drier growing seasons under climate change may shift the reproductive phenology of the alpine systems in similar pattern.     

内蒙古和青藏高原草原植物叶片与根系氮利用效率空间格局及影响因素

氮利用效率是植物的关键功能性状, 同时紧密关联生态系统功能, 但是目前对氮利用效率的区域格局及影响因素仍然不清楚。该研究分析了内蒙古和青藏高原草原82个调查地点、139种植物叶片和根系的氮利用效率及其与环境因素、植物功能群之间的关系, 实验结果显示: 1)草甸草原植物叶片的氮利用效率为53 g·g ^-1, 显著大于高寒草甸(46 g·g ^-1)、荒漠草原(41 g·g ^-1)和典型草原(39 g·g ^-1)。高寒草甸根系氮利用效率为108 g·g ^-1, 显著高于其他生态系统。2)叶片氮利用效率比根系对温度更加敏感, 但随着干旱指数的增加, 两者均表现出显著的降低趋势。3)杂类草叶片和根系氮利用效率低于莎草科和禾本科植物, 豆科植物叶片和根系氮利用效率分别比非豆科植物低48%和60%。4)植物氮利用效率与土壤氮含量之间没有显著关系。总体上, 内蒙古和青藏高原草原植物叶片和根系氮利用效率的空间格局存在差异, 主要影响因素为植物功能群和干旱指数。本研究系统揭示内蒙古和青藏高原草原植物氮利用效率的空间格局及关键驱动因子, 有助于在全球变化背景下了解我国草地生产力维持机制, 同时为草原生态系统管理提供科学依据。     

Experimental warming changed plants’ phenological sequences of two dominant species in an alpine meadow,western of Sichuan

以西南横断山区高山草甸优势植物种珠芽拳参(Polygonum viviparum)和银叶委陵菜(Potentilla leuconota)为研究对象, 将其物候分为花芽期、开花期、凋谢期和种子成熟期4个阶段, 每个阶段又分为开始、峰值和结束3个状态。采用开顶式增温箱进行模拟增温, 连续增温4年后, 于增温第5年的2016年生长季跟踪调查了模拟增温对珠芽拳参和银叶委陵菜的繁殖物候序列的影响, 以探讨高山植物群落对气候变化的响应过程。结果显示, 模拟增温后: 1)珠芽拳参各物候阶段的持续时间缩短; 除凋谢阶段起始、结束期延迟外, 其他状态均有不同程度的提前; 各阶段的过渡期有不同程度的缩短, 繁殖周期缩短; 2)银叶委陵菜各物候阶段的持续时间延长; 凋谢期结束前各状态(除开花峰值外)表现为不同程度的提前; 各阶段过渡期对增温的响应不一致, 繁殖周期延长。结果表明: 完整的繁殖物候序列能更准确地反映植物物候对气候变暖的响应; 植物对环境变化的响应和应对策略存在种间差异, 这种差异可能会进一步改变植物群落组成和结构。     

Soil inorganic carbon stock in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau: An updated evaluation using deep cores

Aims To estimate the size and spatial patterns of 3-m-deep soil inorganic carbon (SIC) stock across alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.Methods We conducted a comprehensive investigation and collected soil samples from 342 3-m-deep cores and 177 50-cm-deep pits across the study area. Using Kriging interpolation, we interpolated site-level observations to the regional level. The distribution of SIC density was then overlaid with the regional vegetation map at a scale of 1:1000000 to calculate SIC stock of the alpine steppe and alpine meadow. Kruskal-Wallis tests were further conducted to examine the differences of SIC density between the two grassland types and among soil depths with 50 cm-depth intervals.Important findings The total SIC stock at depths of 50 cm, 1 m, 2 m and 3 m were estimated at 8.26, 17.82, 36.33 and 54.29 Pg C, with SIC density being 7.22, 15.58, 31.76 and 47.46 kg C·m^-2, respectively. SIC density exhibited large spatial variability, with an increasing trend from the southeastern to the northwestern plateau. Much larger SIC stock was observed in the alpine steppe than alpine meadow, with the former accounting for 63%-66% of the total stock at depths of 50 cm, 1 m, 2 m and 3 m. A large amount of SIC stock was found in deep soils (1-3 m), amounting to approximately 2 times as much carbon stored in the top 1-m-deep soil layer. The vertical distributions of SIC density differed between the two grassland types. The highest proportions of SIC occurred in the upper 50 cm layer for the alpine steppe while the highest proportions occurred in 100-150 cm layer for the alpine meadow. These results highlight that a large amount of SIC is stored in deep soil layers, which should be considered in evaluating terrestrial carbon balance under global change scenario.     

Effects of nitrogen addition on root dynamics in an alpine meadow,Northwestern Sichuan

该文以川西北高寒草甸为研究对象, 采用微根管法研究了不同施氮(N)水平下高寒草甸植物群落根系现存量、生产量、死亡量和周转率的变化及其与土壤理化性质的相互关系。结果表明: N添加显著增加了土壤速效氮(AN)含量, 降低了土壤pH值, 但是对土壤有机质(SOM)和全氮(TN)含量无显著影响。在0-10 cm土层, 平均根系现存量和累积根系生产量无显著变化, 累积根系死亡量在N10处理下显著降低了206.1 g·m ^-2, 根系周转率在N30处理下显著提高了17%; 在10-20 cm土层, N添加处理的平均根系现存量和累积根系生产量分别显著降低了195.3和142.3 g·m ^-2 (N10)、235.8和212.1 g·m ^-2 (N20)、198.0和204.4 g·m ^-2 (N30), 累积根系死亡量和周转率无显著变化。此外, 累积根系生产量、死亡量和周转率与AN含量相关性较大, 而平均根系现存量与SOM、AN和TN含量相关性较大。综上所述, N添加对高寒草甸的影响主要通过改变土壤可利用N含量, 进而影响根系的动态特征、空间分布格局和周转以及碳分配特征。     

Responses of ecosystem carbon exchange to multi-level water addition in an alpine meadow in Namtso of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China

高寒草甸是青藏高原的主要草地类型, 对青藏高原生态系统碳收支具有重要的调节作用。目前, 有关高寒草甸生态系统碳交换对气候变化的响应所知甚少, 尤其是降水变化会如何影响高寒草甸碳交换过程的相关研究非常匮乏。该文作者于2013和2014年的生长季(5-9月)在青藏高原纳木错地区高寒草甸进行多梯度人工增水实验, 设置对照和5个水分添加梯度, 分别增加0%、20%、40%、60%、80%和100%的降水, 以研究高寒草甸生态系统在不同降水量条件下的碳交换变化。增水处理后, 各处理梯度之间的土壤温度没有显著差异, 而土壤含水量在不同增水处理后出现显著变化, 相对于对照, 增水幅度越大, 对应的土壤含水量越高。综合2013和2014年的观测结果, 高寒草甸生态系统整体表现为碳吸收, 在20%增水处理中, 净生态系统碳交换(NEE)达到最大值, 随着模拟的降水梯度进一步增加, NEE逐渐下降; 增水处理对生态系统呼吸(ER)无显著影响; 总生态系统生产力(GEP)的变化趋势与NEE一致, 即随着增水梯度增大, GEP先增加, 并在增水20%处理达到最大值, 随后GEP开始降低。研究表明, 在高寒草甸生态系统, 水分是影响GEP和NEE的重要因素, 对ER影响较弱; 未来适度的增水(20%-40%)能促进高寒草甸生态系统对碳的吸收。     

Effects of N addition on ecological stoichiometric characteristics in six dominant plant species of alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China

以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象, 通过人工氮肥添加试验, 研究6个群落优势种在不同施氮(N)水平下叶片碳(C)、N、磷(P)元素含量的变化以及生态化学计量学特征。结果表明: 自然条件下, 6个物种叶片N、P质量浓度存在显著的差异, 表现为: 黄花棘豆(Oxytropis ochrocephala)最高, 为24.5和2.51 g·kg^-1, 其叶片N含量低于而P含量高于我国其他草地的豆科植物; 其余5个物种叶片N、P质量浓度分别为11.5-18.1和1.49-1.72 g·kg^-1, 嵩草(Kobresia myosuroides)叶片N含量最低, 垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)叶片P含量最低, 与我国其他区域的研究结果相比, 其叶片N和P含量均低于我国其他草地非豆科植物。随氮素添加量的增大, 6种群落优势种叶片的C和P含量保持不变; 其他5种植物叶片N含量显著增加, 黄花棘豆叶片N含量保持不变。未添加氮肥时, 6种植物叶片N:P为7.3-11.2, 说明该区植物生长更多地受N限制。随N添加量的增加, 除黄花棘豆外, 其他5种植物叶片N:P大于16, 表现为植物生长受P限制。综合研究表明, 青藏草原高寒草甸植物叶片N含量较低, 植物受N影响显著, 但不同物种对N的添加反应不同, 豆科植物黄花棘豆叶片对N添加不敏感, 其他5个物种叶片全N含量随着N添加量的升高而增加, 该研究结果可为高寒草甸科学施肥提供理论依据。     

Flower symmetry and flower size variability: an examination of Berg’s hypotheses in an alpine meadow

植物花对称性与传粉系统密切相关, 花特征的变异性受到传粉者的选择作用。由于特化的传粉者对两侧对称的花的稳定选择, Berg假说认为两侧对称植物花大小的变异性比辐射对称植物的更低; 而且, 在传粉者的选择作用下花特征比植物营养特征明显有更低的变异性, 因为后者更易受环境影响。该文对青藏高原东部高山草甸植物群落的50种开花植物(包括19种两侧对称植物和31种辐射对称植物)的花和叶特征进行了测定和分析。结果表明不论是两侧对称植物还是辐射对称植物, 花大小的变异性都显著低于叶片大小的变异性, 表明传粉者对花施加的稳定选择有利于花的稳定性。但是, 辐射对称物种花大小的变异程度和两侧对称物种的相似, 即使在控制物种系统发育的影响后, 也没有发现显著的差异, 这与Berg假说不一致。高山生态系统中传粉者种类相对较少, 以熊蜂和蝇类为主, 传粉者的活动受局域气候环境影响较大, 因此传粉昆虫对植物花的选择作用强度可能有较大的变异性。     

东祁连山高寒草甸不同退化阶段植被/土壤磷素特征及其与生物量的关系

磷素是高寒草地生态系统的重要支持元素,高寒草甸退化导致较为严重的生态和生产问题,同时也引起了生态系统物质循环的变化。为揭示高寒草甸退化中土壤磷素特征及其对植被特征的效应,以东祁连山轻度(LD)、中度(MD)、重度退化(SD)高寒草甸退化阶段为研究对象,以多年围封高寒草甸(FG)为对照,在春季和夏季分别对不同高寒草甸阶段样地不同土层深度土壤全磷、有效磷、微生物量磷含量及碱性磷酸酶活性等磷素特征进行了研究,并对夏季植被地上生物量和磷素含量等植被特征进行了调查。结果表明：东祁连山高寒草甸退化导致植被地上生物量和磷含量急剧下降,重度退化高寒草甸地上生物量干重仅是围封草地的35.93%,退化高寒草甸地上部磷含量仅为围封草地的60%,且不同退化阶段地上部磷含量没有明显差异。退化导致高寒草甸表层土壤的全磷、有效磷含量升高,相比FG,土壤有效磷含量春季LD、MD和SD分别升高了16.67%、36.67%和3.33%,夏季分别升高了4.35%、26.09%和4.35%,且有效磷含量具有夏季低于春季的季节差异性。退化导致土壤微生物量磷含量明显降低,而对碱性磷酸酶活性影响没有明显的规律性,但围封草地夏季碱性...     

Spatio-temporal characteristics of evapotranspiration and water use efficiency in grasslands of Xinjiang

Aims Xinjiang is located in the hinterland of the Eurasian arid areas, with grasslands widely distributed. Grasslands in Xinjiang provide significant economic and ecological benefits. However, research on evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) of the grasslands is still relatively weak. This study aimed to explore the spatio-temporal characteristics on ET and WUE in the grasslands of Xinjiang in the context of climate change.Methods The Biome-BGC model was used to determine the spatio-temporal characteristics of ET and WUE of the grasslands over the period 1979-2012 across different seasons, areas and grassland types in Xinjiang.Important findings The average annual ET in the grasslands of Xinjiang was estimated at 245.7 mm, with interannual variations generally consistent with that of precipitation. Overall, the value of ET was lower than that of precipitation. The higher values of ET mainly distributed in the Tianshan Mountains, Altai Mountains, Altun Mountains and the low mountain areas on the northern slope of Kunlun Mountains. The lower values of ET mainly distributed in the highland areas of Kunlun Mountains and the desert plains. Over the period 1979-2012, average annual ET was 183.2 mm in the grasslands of southern Xinjiang, 357.9 mm in the grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains, and 221.3 mm in grasslands of northern Xinjiang. In winter, ET in grasslands of northern Xinjiang was slightly higher than that of Tianshan Mountains. Average annual ET ranked among grassland types as: mid-mountain meadow > swamp meadow > typical grassland > desert grassland > alpine meadow > saline meadow. The highest ET value occurred in summer, and the lowest ET value occurred in winter, with ET in spring being slightly higher than that in autumn. The higher WUE values mainly distributed in the areas of Tianshan Mountains and Altai Mountains. The lower WUE values mainly distributed in the highland areas of Kunlun Mountains and part of the desert plains. The average annual WUE in the grasslands of Xinjiang was 0.56 g·kg^-1, with the seasonal values of 0.43 g·kg^-1 in spring, 0.60 g·kg^-1 in summer, and 0.48 g·kg^-1 in autumn, respectively. Over the period 1979-2012, the values of WUE displayed significant regional differences: the average values were 0.73 g·kg^-1 in northern Xinjiang, 0.26 g·kg^-1 in southern Xinjiang, and 0.69 g·kg^-1 in Tianshan Mountains. There were also significant differences in WUE among grassland types. The values of WUE ranked in the order of mid-mountain meadow > typical grassland > swamp meadow > saline meadow > alpine meadow > desert grassland.     

高寒草甸退化对短穗兔耳草克隆生长特征的影响

以调查统计和比较样地法研究了江河源区高寒草甸退化对典型匍匐茎植物短穗兔耳草克隆生长特征的影响。结果表明,退化草甸的植物群落结构、功能以及土壤特征发生了明显地变化,继而对短穗兔耳草无性系的克隆生长行为和形态特性产生了影响。高寒草甸退化后短穗兔耳草的匍匐茎有所增多,分支强度加大。退化草甸内短穗兔耳草的基株高度小于未退化草甸,根长大于未退化草甸,基株的叶片数目间没有明显差别。退化草甸内短穗兔耳草的分株高度显著小于未退化草甸,分株叶数明显多于未退化草甸,而根长尽管大于未退化草甸,但差异不显著。短穗兔耳草匍匐茎长度在未退化草甸内明显大于退化草甸,匍匐茎茎生叶数和匍匐茎粗度也在未退化草甸大于退化草甸。短穗兔耳草在未退化草甸用于克隆繁殖的能量投资比例高于退化草甸,其中未退化草甸内短穗兔耳草基株的干重比例略低于退化草甸,分株和匍匐茎的干重比例高于退化草甸。高寒草甸退化对短穗兔耳草克隆生长特征的这些影响,是其对高寒草甸退化导致的资源和生境差异的反应,也是对资源利用达到的最合理状态,是一种选择适应的结果。     

Hierarchical responses of plant stoichiometry to phosphorus addition in an alpine meadow community

为了探明氮(N)限制的植物群落中物种水平和功能群水平的碳(C)、N、磷(P)含量以及C:N:P对P添加的响应是否一致,明确P添加对群落物种构成改变的内在机制。以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象, 通过P添加试验, 研究了功能群水平和物种水平生态化学计量比对P添加的响应, 以及P添加对物种水平的优势度和功能群水平生物量的影响。结果表明: 在青藏高原高寒草甸连续5年添加P显著改变了植物的C、N、P含量以及C:N:P, 且在物种水平和功能群水平(不含典型物种)的响应规律基本一致。在禾本科、莎草科和杂类草功能群(不含典型物种)和相应物种水平上P添加对C含量影响不显著。P添加显著增加了禾本科、莎草科、豆科和杂类草4个功能群(不含典型物种)和相应物种水平的植物P含量, 降低了C:P和N:P。禾本科和莎草科的N含量和C:N对P添加在物种水平和功能群水平上(不含典型物种)的响应规律一致, 表现为N含量显著降低, C:N显著增加; P添加使豆科物种水平上N含量显著增加而C:N显著降低, 但在功能群水平上(不含典型物种)无显著作用; 杂类草的N含量和C:N对P添加在物种水平和功能群水平上(不含典型物种)的响应规律均不一致。在N限制的生境中添加P, 禾本科物种在群落中逐渐占据优势跟其增高的N、P利用效率相关, 而杂类草由于逐渐降低的N和P利用效率使其生物量在群落中所占的比重逐渐下降。     

高寒草毡层基本属性与固碳能力沿水分和海拔梯度的变化

高寒草毡层是高原寒区自然植被下形成的松软而坚韧且耐搬运的表土层,认识其生态功能是促进草牧业生产休养保护和工程施工主动利用的前提。通过对青藏高原东部若尔盖高原植被的广泛调查,在布设沼泽、退化沼泽、沼泽化草甸、湿草甸、干草甸和退化草甸水分梯度群落样地,以及亚高山草甸、亚高山灌丛草甸、高山灌丛草甸和高山草甸海拔梯度群落样地的基础上,通过对不同类型群落样地草毡层容重、土壤颗粒组成和土壤有机碳(SOC)含量的测定分析,比较了水分和海拔梯度下草毡层固碳能力。结果表明,草毡层厚度平均为30cm,沼泽湿地草毡层容重最小,SOC含量在300g/kg以上;退化草甸容重最高,SOC含量显著下降。不同群落草毡层SOC密度在10—24kg C/m~2之间,随着土壤水分有效性的降低而降低;高山灌丛草甸草毡层SOC密度比草甸高15%。研究得出,保持草毡层稳定的质量含水量阈值为30%,SOC含量阈值为30g/kg;高寒植被草毡层在沼泽到草甸的退化演替中,容重、紧实度变大,有机碳含量减少,碳密度和碳储量下降;灌丛草甸的固碳能力大于草甸,但灌丛草甸的生产功能降低;保持可持续发展的草地生产能力,维护固碳生态功能,需要防止草毡层退化,抑制草甸向灌丛草甸演替。     

气候变化背景下近30年祁连山高寒荒漠分布时空变化

高寒荒漠作为青藏高原植被带谱的顶端类型广泛分布于祁连山高海拔地区, 其生长和分布条件与周边区域差异明显, 对气候变化的响应更为敏感, 且研究较少。该文利用1990年以来的Landsat TM、OLI数据, 采用决策树分类和人工目视解译方法, 提取了祁连山高寒荒漠的分布范围。结合气候变化情况, 综合分析了气候变化背景下近30年祁连山高寒荒漠分布的动态变化及其时空差异。结果表明: (1)近30年增温气候变化过程中, 祁连山高寒荒漠分布范围呈萎缩趋势, 萎缩速率约为348.3 km ²·a ^-1, 萎缩变化幅度表现为西段>中段>东段, 局部地段上存在扩张现象。上述现象导致高寒荒漠下界平均海拔以每10年约15 m的平均速率向更高海拔推进, 向上推进幅度为西段>东段>中段; (2)受水热条件控制, 近30年祁连山高寒荒漠分布动态变化集中分布在低坡度地区。由于水热背景条件的空间差异, 祁连山东段和中段阳坡上高寒荒漠分布动态变化大于阴坡, 而在祁连山西段表现相反; (3) 1990年以来, 祁连山增温显著, 降水量微弱增加。在气候变化以及区域地形限制共同影响下, 祁连山高寒荒漠分布变化时空差异明显, 且过渡带上归一化植被指数与气温相关性高于降水量。以上结果表明, 气候变化影响祁连山高寒荒漠分布动态变化及其空间差异, 但气温是主要的影响因子, 增温促进了高寒荒漠下接植被带主体高寒草甸的生长。