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。     

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.     

水分和养分添加对羊草功能性状和地上生物量的影响

研究水分和养分添加对植物功能性状的影响, 对于揭示植物对环境变化的响应和适应规律至关重要。该文采用盆栽试验的方法, 进行不同水平水分处理(增水50%, 减水50%, 以498 mm降水量作为对照)和养分添加(无养分添加, 单施氮肥, 单施磷肥, 氮磷共施), 研究羊草(Leymus chinensis)的10种功能性状和地上生物量对水分和养分添加的响应。得出以下结论: (1)双因素方差分析结果表明, 水分主效应对羊草株高、分蘖数、茎生物量、叶生物量、叶面积、叶质量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率存在显著影响; 养分主效应对羊草分蘖数、茎生物量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率存在显著影响; 水分和养分的交互作用对羊草分蘖数、茎生物量、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率存在显著影响。(2)各功能性状对降水量的响应在不同养分添加水平是不同的, 分蘖数和叶面积在单施氮肥和氮磷共施条件下随降水量增加而增加, 而在无养分添加和单施磷肥条件下无显著变化; 茎生物量在无养分添加、单施氮肥和单施磷肥条件下随降水量增加而增加, 而在氮磷共施条件下无增加趋势; 比叶面积在单施氮肥条件下增水处理显著低于对照组, 而在其他养分添加条件下无明显变化。(3)短期氮磷处理显著影响羊草叶片光合生理性状, 而对叶形态性状影响不显著。(4)羊草地上生物量随降水量的增加呈现上升趋势, 并且在单施氮肥条件下, 增水处理使地上生物量达到最高, 为522.55 g·m ^-2。总之, 羊草的功能性状对降水量增加表现出明显的响应, 响应格局在不同养分条件下不同, 反映了其对水肥环境变化的适应。     

Biomass estimation models and allocation patterns of 14 shrub species in Mountain Luya,Shanxi, China

Aims Shrub species have evolved specific strategies to regulate biomass allocation among various organs or between above- and belowground biomass and shrub biomass model is an important approach to estimate biomass allocation among different shrub species. This study was designed to establish the optimal estimation models for each organ (leaf, stem, and root), aboveground and total biomass of 14 common shrub species in Mountain Luya, Shanxi Province, China. Furthermore, we explored biomass allocation characteristics of these shrub species by using the index of leaf biomass fraction (leaf to total biomass), stem biomass fraction (stem to total biomass), root biomass fraction (root to total biomass), and root to shoot mass ratio (R/S) (belowground to aboveground biomass).
Methods We used plant height, basal diameter, canopy diameter and their combination as variables to establish the optimal biomass estimation models for each shrub species. In addition, we used the ratios of leaf, stem, root to total biomass, and belowground to aboveground biomass to explore the difference of biomass allocation patterns of 14 shrub species.
Important findings Most of biomass estimation models could be well expressed by the exponential and linear functions. Biomass for shorter shrub species with more stems could be better estimated by canopy area; biomass for taller shrub species with less stems could be better estimated by the sum of the square of total base diameter multiply stem height; and biomass for the rest shrub species could be better estimated by canopy volume. The averaged value for these shrub species was 0.61, 0.17, 0.48, and 0.35 for R/S, leaf biomass fraction, stem biomass fraction, and root biomass fraction, respectively. Except for leaf biomass fraction, R/S, stem biomass fraction, and root biomass fraction for shrubs with thorn was significantly greater than that for shrubs without thorn.     

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。     

Effects of nitrogen addition on photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis in the temperate grassland of Nei Mongol,China

Aims The increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition due to human activity and climate change greatly causes grassland ecosystems shifting from being naturally N-limited to N-eutrophic or N-saturated, and further affecting the growth of grass species. The aims of this study are: 1) to evaluate the effects of different N addition levels on morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis; 2) to determine the critical N level to facilitate L. chinensis growth.
Methods We conducted a different N addition levels experiment in dominant species in the temperate steppe of Nei Mongol. The aboveground biomass, morphological and leaf physiological traits, pigment contents, chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and biochemical parameters of L. chinensis were investigated.
Important findings Our results showed that aboveground biomass first increased and then decreased with the increased N, having the highest values at the 10 g N·m^-2·a^?1 treatment, but the 25 g N·m^-2·a^?1 still significantly increased the aboveground biomass relative to 0 g N·m^-2·a^?1. Leymus chinensis accommodate low N situation through allocating less N to carboxylation system and decreasing leaf mass per area (LMA) in order to get more light energy. Moderate N addition captured more light energy through increasing total chlorophyll (Chl) contents and decreasing the ratio of Chl a/b. Moderate N addition increased LMA, carboxylation efficiency, maximum carboxylation rate (V_cmax), maximum electron transport rate (J_max) and decreased J_max/V_cmax, thus allocating more N to carboxylation system to enhance carboxylation capability. Moreover, the photochemical activity of PSII was increased through higher effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, electron transport rate and photochemical quenching coefficient. Excessive N addition had negative effects on physiological variables of L. chinensis due to lower carboxylation capability and photochemical activity of PSII, further leading to decreased net photosynthetic rate, whereas increased non-photochemical quenching coefficient and carotenoids played the role in the dissipation of excess excitation energy. Overall, moderate N addition facilitated the photosynthetic characteristics of dominant species, but excessive N addition inhibited photosynthetic characteristics. The most appropriate N addition for the growth of L. chinensis was 5-10 g N·m^-2·a^?1 in the temperate steppe of Nei Mongol, China.     

A review of belowground biomass allocation and its response to global climatic change in grassland ecosystems

Biomass allocations between aboveground and belowground organs provide pivotal information for connecting aboveground productivity and belowground carbon sequestration. As accurate measurement of belowground biomass is essential for determining the biomass allocation, we first reviewed the methods in quantifying belowground biomass and their merits. We then presented the major advances on plant biomass allocations between aboveground and belowground organs, as well as the potential drivers such as precipitation, warming, atmospheric CO₂ concentration, and nitrogen deposition. We finally provided a list of challenges in studying belowground biomass allocation for the future. This review has important implications for studies on carbon cycling in grassland ecosystems under the changing climate.     

Biomass allocation and carbon density of Sophora moorcroftiana shrublands in the middle reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River,Xizang, China

Aims The expansion of shrublands is considered as one of the key reasons leading to the increase of carbon density in terrestrial ecosystems in China. In the present study, our aims were to explore the biomass allocation and carbon density of Sophora moorcroftiana shrublands in Xizang.
Methods We sampled the biomass of S. moorcroftiana shrubs from 18 sites in the middle reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River, Xizang. Using concentrations of different organs, we estimated the carbon density of different layers in S. moorcroftiana shrublands.
Important findings The plant cover rather than biomass volume (the product of cover and height) provided the best fit for aboveground biomass. The average of the total biomass was 5.71 Mg·hm^-2, ranging from 2.32 to 8.96 Mg·hm^-2. The average biomass of shrub layer, the main component of shrub ecosystem, was 4.08 Mg·hm^-2, accounting for 71% of the total biomass. The belowground biomass of shrub and herb layers was 2.08 and 0.86 Mg·hm^-2, respectively, which was higher than the corresponding aboveground biomass. The average biomass carbon density was 2.48 Mg·hm^-2. Shrub vegetation in the eastern part of the middle reaches has lower carbon density than that in the western part. The relatively high biomass allocation to roots to increase water and nutrient undertake as well as physical support for plants is an important strategy of S. moorcroftiana to cope with the arid environment on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Moreover, the lower carbon density in the eastern part of the middle reaches might be due to the dry environment resulted from high temperature and evapotranspiration and enhanced human activities at low altitudes. The continuous decrease of evapotranspiration under scenarios of future climate change may lead to increase in carbon density in S. moorcroftiana shrublands.     

Response and correlation of above- and below-ground functional traits of Leymus chinensis to nitrogen and phosphorus additions

AimsLeymus chinensis is a constructive and dominant species in typical steppe of northern China. The structure and functions of L. chinensis grassland ecosystem has been degenerated seriously due to long-term overgrazing in recent decades. As an effective measure to restore the degraded grasslands, the effects of nutrient addition on plant growth and ecosystem structure and functioning have been paid more attention in manipulation experimental research. The effects of nutrient addition, especially P addition on the above- and below-ground functional traits of L. chinensis have rarely been studied; particularly the underpinning mechanisms remain unclear. Our objective is to examine the responses and adaptive mechanisms of L. chinensis to different levels of N and P additions. MethodsWe conducted a culture experiment in the greenhouse, with three levels of N (50, 100 and 250 mg N·kg^-1) and P (5, 10 and 25 mg P·kg^-1) addition treatments. The above- and below-ground biomass, leaf traits (e.g., specific leaf area, leaf N and P contents) and root traits (e.g., specific root length, root N and P contents) of L. chinensis were determined in this study.Important findings Our results showed that: 1) the aboveground biomass and total biomass of L. chinensis were mostly affected by N addition, while the belowground biomass was mainly affected by P addition. N addition greatly enhanced the aboveground biomass of L. chinensis, while P addition reduced the belowground biomass at the moderate and high N levels. The root-shoot ratio of L. chinensis was influenced by both N and P additions, and root-shoot ratio decreased with increasing N and P levels. N and P additions promoted more biomass and N and P allocations to aboveground and leaf biomass. 2) Leymus chinensis showed different responses and adaptive mechanisms to P addition at low and high N levels. At low N level, L. chinensis exhibited high photosynthetic rate and specific root length (SRL) to improve photosynthetic capacity and root N acquisition, which promoted aboveground biomass. High root P content was favorable for belowground biomass. At high N level, P addition did not significantly affect plant growth of L. chinensis, even reduced its belowground biomass. Leymus chinensis showed high specific leaf area (SLA) and SRL to improve light interception and N acquisition in order to maintain stable aboveground biomass. 3) P addition greatly impacted below-ground than above-ground functional traits. SLA exhibited a weakly positive correlation with SRL, indicating L. chinensis exhibited relatively independence of resource acquirement and utilization between leaf and root functional traits.     

Distribution of biomass in relation to environments in shrublands of temperate China

Aims Shrubland is one of the most widely distributed vegetation types in northern China. Previous studies on pattern and dynamics of plant biomass have been focused on forest and grassland ecosystems, while relevant knowledge on shrubland ecosystems is lacking. It is important to include shrublands in northern China to improve the accuracy in estimating the terrestrial ecosystem biomass in China.
Methods Based on investigations and samplings from 433 shrubland sites, we explored the distribution and allocation patterns of biomass in relation to climatic and soil nutrient factors of shrublands of temperate China.
Important findings The average shrubland biomass density in northern China is 12.5 t·hm^-2. It decreases significantly from temperate deciduous shrubland in northeast to desert shrubland in northwest. The average biomass density of temperate deciduous shrubland, alpine shrubland, and desert shrubland is 14.4, 28.8, and 5.0 t·hm^-2, respectively. Within temperate deciduous shrublands, plant biomass is lower in North China than in Northeast China. The average aboveground and belowground biomass density of shrub layer is 4.5 and 5.4 t·hm^-2, respectively; while that of grass layer is 0.8 and 1.8 t·hm^-2, respectively. Environmental factors affect biomass allocation across different plant organs. The belowground-aboveground biomass ratio of shrub exhibits no significant changes with environmental variables. The leaf-stem ratio increases with annual precipitation, and leaf biomass is low in arid region.     

Responses of plant community biomass to nitrogen and phosphorus additions in natural and restored grasslands around Qinghai Lake Basin

Aims Plant biomass reflects the primary productivity of community vegetation, and is the main resource of carbon input in the terrestrial ecosystem. It is usually limited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability in the soil. Alpine grassland around Qinghai Lake Basin has experienced extensive land-use changes due to the cultivation of native grassland and vegetation recovery on cropped land. In this experiment, two grassland types were chosen, natural alpine grassland (NG) and its adjacent restored grassland (RG), to determine the responses of plant community biomass to N and P additions with different land-use. Methods NH₄NO₃ and Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O were added in a completely randomized block design, with medium levels of 10 g N·m^-2 and 5 g P·m^-2. Soil NO₃^--N and available P contents, and the plant community biomass were measured in the two grasslands. Two-way ANOVA was used to determine the effects of nutrient additions on all measured indicators, and regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations between plant biomass and soil NO₃^--N and available P contents.Important findings Results showed: (1) N and P additions both increased grass biomass in the NG, and significantly elevated the total aboveground biomass, with the promoting effect of N addition higher than that of P addition; N addition significantly increased both grass and forb biomass in the RG, and markedly promoted the total aboveground biomass, while P addition had no effects on the functional groups and total aboveground biomass (p > 0.05). (2) N and P additions both had no effects on the belowground and total biomass in the NG, whereas N addition significantly increased the total biomass by 34% in the RG, which suggested that the effect of N limitation on the vegetation primary productivity was stronger in the RG at present stage. (3) The aboveground biomass in the NG increased with soil NO₃^--N content (p < 0.05), and the above- and below-ground as well as the total biomass were all positively correlated with soil NO₃^--N content in the RG (p < 0.01). These results indicated that the plant growth in alpine grassland around Qinghai Lake Basin was prone to N limitation, and the effect of P limitation changed with land-use. Soil available N might be the key limiting factor for vegetation restoration and reconstruction in the RG. The “Grain for Green” project (the land-use policy) and atmospheric N deposition are benefiting both plant growth and C accumulation in the alpine grassland ecosystem around Qinghai Lake Basin.     

长期氮添加对典型草原植物多样性与初级生产力的影响及途径

氮(N)沉降对陆地生态系统的结构和功能已产生了重要的影响, N也是中国北方草原植物生长和初级生产力的主要限制性元素。物种多样性和功能多样性是揭示生物多样性对生态系统功能维持机制的关键指标, 然而, 关于长期N添加下草原物种多样性与功能多样性的关系, 及其对初级生产力的影响途径及机制, 尚不十分清楚。为此, 该研究依托在内蒙古典型草原建立的长期N添加实验平台, 实验处理包括1个完全对照(不添加任何肥料)和6个N添加水平(0、1.75、5.25、10.50、17.50和28.00 g·m^-2·a^-1), 研究了长期N添加对典型草原物种多样性、功能多样性和初级生产力的影响大小及途径。结果表明: 1) N添加显著降低了典型草原的物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数, 但对功能多样性(包括功能性状多样性指数和群落加权性状值)无显著的影响。2)结构方程模型分析表明, 功能多样性主要受物种丰富度的影响, 但是物种多样性减少并没有导致功能多样性降低, 其原因主要是功能群组成发生了改变, 即群落内多年生根茎禾草所占比例显著增加, 以致群落加权性状值变化不大。3) N通过影响物种丰富度和功能群组成, 间接影响群落加权性状值, 进而影响群落净初级生产力。其中, 群落加权性状值是最重要的影响因子, 可解释48%的初级生产力变化, 表明初级生产力主要是由群落内优势物种的生物量及功能性状所决定, 因此该研究的结果很好地支持了质量比假说。     

降水变化对内蒙古典型草原地上生物量的影响

降水格局的变化是气候变化影响干旱和半干旱区草原植物群落结构和功能的关键过程。作为植物群落结构和功能的基本组成单位——植物功能群——对气候变化的响应差异明显。有关不同植物功能群如何响应降水格局的研究, 有助于揭示气候变化对干旱与半干旱区生态系统关键功能与过程稳定性的变异机制。该文利用1982-2015年的典型草原群落地上生物量长期动态监测数据及其所对应的气候数据, 系统揭示降水变化对干旱与半干旱区生态系统生产力的影响。主要研究结果如下: 1) 1982-2015年内蒙古典型草原区降水变化特征明显, 主要表现在降水集中度呈显著的降低趋势; 小降水事件(≤5 mm)明显增多。2)降水变化导致群落生物量呈下降趋势。其中, 多年生丛生禾草的生物量呈上升趋势; 一二年生植物、多年生杂类草、多年生根茎禾类草的生物量均呈下降趋势。3)群落生物量与生长季降水量、降水集中度呈显著的正相关关系。各功能群中, 多年生杂类草、半灌木和生长季降水量呈显著正相关关系, 灌木与降水集中度呈显著负相关关系。4)群落生物量与各等级降水的频率相关性均不显著, 但与I-II类(0.1-10 mm)降水贡献率显著负相关。各功能群中, 多年生杂类草与I类降水(0.1-5.0 mm)的发生频率和降水贡献率均呈显著的负相关关系, 与VI类降水(20-25 mm)的发生频率和贡献率均呈显著的正相关关系。多年生根茎禾类草和VIII类降水(>35 mm)的发生频率和贡献率均呈显著的正相关关系。说明小降水事件的增加将显著降低群落的地上生物量, 小降水事件对干旱、半干旱区植被生长具有重要的生态学意义。     

Plant leaf traits,height and biomass partitioning in typical ephemerals under different levels of snow cover thickness in an alpine meadow

Aims In the cold life zones, snow cover is a comprehensive environmental factor that directly influences soil temperature, soil water content, light and nutrient availability. Plants in these zones develop a series of unique mechanisms involving phenological characteristics, reproductive strategies, physiology and morphology to adapt to environmental changes. This paper is focused on the responses of plant leaf traits, height and biomass partitioning to variations in snow cover thickness, in order to better understand the responses of plant functional traits and specific adaptation strategies under global climate change scenarios. Methods Three transects were established along a gradient of snow cover in an alpine meadow of Mt. Kaka, in the eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Primula purdomii, Pedicularis kansuensis and Ranunculus tanguticus, which are three widely distributed and dominant ephemerals, were sampled and studied, particularly at their blooming stages. Plant height, specific leaf area (SLA) and biomass partitioning were measured accordingly. Important findings The values of SLA in Pedicularis kansuensis and R. tanguticus were relatively greater under better soil conditions; it was smaller in Primula purdomii with thick snow cover. The relationship between aboveground biomass and belowground biomass in Primula purdomii was allometric at sites with both thick and thin snow cover. No significant relationships were found between aboveground biomass and belowground biomass in Pedicularis kansuensis and R. tanguticus at some individual sites. However, when samples of the three species were pooled, the relationships between aboveground biomass and belowground biomass were allometric at all sites, which did not support isometric scaling hypothesis. In addition, on sites with either thick or thin snow cover, aboveground biomass had greater rate of accumulation than belowground biomass; whereas on sites with medium snow cover, the rate of biomass accumulation was greater for belowground component than aboveground component. Functional traits and biomass variables were better correlated in Primula purdomii and Pedicularis kansuensis than in R. tanguticus.     

Estimation of biomass allocation and carbon density of Rhododendron simsii shrubland in the subtropical mountainous areas of China

Aims As an important potential carbon sink, shrubland ecosystem plays a vital role in global carbon balance and climate regulation. Our objectives were to derive appropriate regression models for shrub biomass estimation, and to reveal the biomass allocation pattern and carbon density in Rhododendron simsii shrubland.
Methods We conducted investigations in 27 plots, and developed biomass regression models for shrub species to estimate shrub biomass. The biomass of herb and litterfall were obtained through harvesting. Plant samples were collected from each plot to measure carbon content in different organs.
Important findings The results showed that the power and linear models were the most appropriate equation forms. The D and D²H (where D was the basal diameter (cm) and H was the shrub height (m)) were good predictors for organ biomass and total biomass of shrubs. All of the biomass models reached extremely significant level, and could be used to estimate shrub biomass with high accuracy. It was more difficult to predict leaf and annual branch biomass than stem biomass, because leaf and annual branch were susceptible to herbivores and inter-plant competition. The mean biomass of the shrub layer was 20.78 Mg·hm^-2, in which Rhododendron simsii and Symplocos paniculata biomass accounted for 93.63%. Influenced by both environment and species characteristics, the biomass of the shrub layer organs was in the order of stem > root > leaf > annual branch. The root:shoot ratio of the shrub layer was 0.32, which was less than other shrubs in subtropical regions. The relative higher aboveground biomass allocation reflected the adaptation of plants to the warm and humid environment for more photosynthesis. The mean total community biomass was 26.26 Mg·hm^-2, in which shrub layer, herb layer and litter layer accounted for 79.14%, 7.62% and 13.25%, respectively. Litter biomass was relatively high, which suggested that this community had high nutrient return. There were significant correlations among aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and total biomass of shrub layer and herb layer. The mean biomass carbon density of the community was 11.70 Mg·hm^-2 and the carbon content ratio was 44.55%. The carbon density was usually obtained using the conversion coefficient of 0.5 in previous studies, which could overestimate carbon density by 12.22%.     

北方农牧交错带温性盐碱化草地土壤呼吸对不同形态氮添加和刈割的响应

农牧交错带草地生态系统兼受农业和牧业的影响, 属于脆弱生态系统, 尤其是养分贫瘠的盐碱化草地, 其生态系统结构和功能对外界干扰的响应更加强烈。位于晋西北地区的农牧交错带盐碱化草地, 地理位置独特, 区别于天然牧区草地生态系统。由于毗邻农田, 农业氮肥的过量使用促进了活性氮气体排放, 同时使得农牧交错带草地土壤碳氮循环发生改变。刈割是北方农牧交错草地生态系统的主要管理方式, 为了深入探究氮添加和刈割管理方式对农牧交错带草地碳循环的影响, 进一步厘清该区域草地生态系统的碳动态问题, 该研究设置了一个不同形态氮添加和刈割的裂区实验, 测定土壤呼吸对不同形态氮肥添加和刈割的响应, 为进一步科学管理该区域草地提供可靠的依据。实验样地位于山西省右玉县境内的“山西农业大学农牧交错带草地生态系统野外观测研究站”, 于2017年设置不同形态氮添加和刈割处理, 实验处理包括对照(不刈割和刈割)、尿素添加、缓释尿素添加、刈割+尿素添加、刈割+缓释尿素添加, 每种处理6个重复, 共36个小区。在不同处理条件下测定土壤呼吸速率、土壤温度、土壤水分、土壤微生物生物量、土壤无机氮含量、植物地上和地下生物量, 并计算土壤累积碳排放量及CO₂通量。研究结果表明: (1)短期(2017-2018年)尿素和缓释尿素的添加显著提高了该地区土壤呼吸速率和土壤累积碳排放量。与添加缓释尿素相比, 添加尿素处理下的土壤呼吸速率和累积碳排放量更高; (2)刈割显著降低土壤呼吸速率和累积碳排放量; (3)短期氮添加和刈割的交互作用对土壤呼吸速率没有显著影响。因此, 短期氮添加促进了北方农牧交错带盐碱化草地土壤碳释放, 刈割抑制土壤呼吸, 降低了累积碳排放量, 这可能是由于刈割移除地上植物, 减少了凋落物的输入, 底物减少导致土壤微生物活性降低。但是随着处理时间的延长, 氮添加和刈割对该农牧交错带盐碱化草地土壤碳动态的影响还有待进一步探究和发现。     

Can litter addition mediate plant productivity responses to increased precipitation and nitrogen deposition in a typical steppe?

Plant litter is a key component of grassland and plays a major role in terrestrial ecosystem processes. Global climate change has been shown to considerably alter litter inputs to soils, which may feed back to the grassland ecosystem responses to climate change. In order to explore whether litter addition could mediate above and belowground productivity responses to short-term increases in growing-season precipitation and nitrogen deposition, we conducted a two-year study on water, nitrogen and litter addition in Inner Mongolia grassland. After two years of treatments, our results showed that water, nitrogen, and litter addition increased aboveground biomass (AB) and belowground net primary productivity (BNPP). Besides, litter addition increased BNPP responses to water addition. These litter addition effects could be attributed to the influence of litter on soil moisture and soil nitrogen availability, ultimately increasing belowground water use efficiency (WUE_BNPP) and plant nitrogen uptake (NUP_BNPP). However, litter addition suppressed the aboveground biomass (AB) responses to nitrogen addition under ambient precipitation conditions by affecting soil moisture. In conclusion, our results suggest that ecosystem responses to short-term increases in growing-season precipitation and nitrogen deposition could be mediated by the increased litter input caused by climate change.     

Partitioning of soil respiration components and evaluating the mycorrhizal contribution to soil respiration in a semiarid grassland

土壤呼吸组分的区分对于理解地下碳循环过程非常重要。而菌根真菌在地下碳循环过程中扮演着重要的角色, 但是有关菌根呼吸在草原生态系统中的研究相对较少。该研究在内蒙古半干旱草原应用深浅环网孔法, 结合浅环、深环(排除根系)和一个带有40 μm孔径窗口的土壤环(排除根系但是有菌根菌丝体)将根和菌丝物理分离, 来区分不同的呼吸组分。结果表明: 异养呼吸对总呼吸的贡献比例为51%, 根呼吸的贡献比例为26%, 菌根呼吸的贡献比例为23%, 菌根呼吸的比例3年变化范围为21%-26%。与国内外研究相比, 此方法提供了一个相对稳定的菌根呼吸测量精度范围, 在草原生态系统中切实可行。对菌根呼吸的准确定量将有助于预测草原生态系统土壤碳释放过程对未来气候变化的响应。     

Foliar nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of alien invasive plants and co-occurring natives in Xishuangbanna

Aims How alien invasive plants and co-occurring native plants utilize nutrients is one of major issues in invasion ecology. Foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents and stoichiometry can elucidate the uptake ability and limitation status of nutrients in plants, which provides basic knowledge for understanding the invading ability and co-occurrence or disappearance of plants.
Methods Based on typical alien invasive plants (Chromolaena odorata, Ageratina adenophora) and native plants in southwestern China, this study focused on strategies of N and P utilization among invasive plants and native plants under different invasion conditions. The species compositions, aboveground biomass, leaf N and P contents and leaf N:P were investigated for plants in plots with no invasion and with different invasion extents (estimated by the plot-based percentage of invaders’ biomass in total community) at Mt. Kongming in Xishuangbanna region, Yunnan Province, China.
Important findings The species number decreased significantly with the invasion extent of both C. odorata and A. adenophora, although the aboveground biomass was greatly enhanced. Leaf N and P contents did not differ between the two studied invaders, but they showed significantly higher N and P levels than both co-occurring and only native species (p < 0.05). Besides, leaf N and P contents of invaders increased with the invasion extent, and leaf N of native plants also showed an increasing trend with the invasion extent. When the influence of invasion was checked for the same species, leaf P contents decreased, whereas leaf N and N:P increased for most native plants under invasion. Based on the absolute foliar N and P contents, N:P values, we inferred that native plants were still limited by N, although N availability might be enhanced by invasion. Both invasive plants had leaf N:P values lower than 10, suggesting a higher P uptake relative to N uptake. All above results highlighted a higher N and P uptake of typical alien invasive plants in southwestern China.     

Effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and nitrogen deposition on the growth of invasive plant Triadica sebifera

Aims Exotic plant invasions are important components of global change, threatening both the stability and function of invaded ecosystems. Shifts in competitive ability of invasive plants versus their native congeners have been documented. Enhanced UV-B radiation and nitrogen (N) deposition might interact with soil biota communities impacting the invasion process of exotic plant species. To understand the potential effects by UV-B and N with soil biota on plant growth would enhance our understanding of the mechanisms in plant invasions in the context of global change.
Methods We conducted a full-factorial pot experiment in the native range (China) of Triadica sebifera invading US to investigate how UV-B radiation, N and soil biota together determined their seedling growth.
Important findings The results showed that UV-B radiation, N and soil sterilization together impacted the growth of T. sebifera seedlings. UV-B radiation induced changes in biomass allocation with larger leaf biomass observed in response to UV-B radiation. In addition, N increased aboveground biomass and decreased root biomass simultaneously. Soil biota imposed positive effects on growth of T. sebifera, and the addition of N amplified these positive effects. The negative effects by UV-B radiation on growth of T. sebifera showed no response to N addition. Plant height, leaf biomass and total biomass of the invasive T. sebifera populations out- performed those of the native ones. In addition, invasive T. sebifera populations weakened the dependence of root/shoot ratio and root biomass on local soil microorganisms than native populations, but enhanced that of leaf area ratio.