Management,winter climate and plant–soil feedbacks on ski slopes: a synthesis

Owing to the increasing popularity of skiing and the upslope movement of the snow reliability line in mountain regions, more and more alpine environments are being turned into skiing areas, with strong impacts on ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Creation and management of ski slopes cause physical disturbance to soil and vegetation, while (artificial) snow supplements affect soil structure, chemistry, moisture and temperature regimes as well as shifts in snow season and growing season length. Vegetation–soil feedbacks may influence the outcome of these interactive effects on soil and vegetation, with possible consequences for soil erosion. Moreover, climate warming will lead to changing snow cover and duration, which will interact with ski slope management effects on soil and vegetation and its feedbacks. Based on a conceptual framework we review the main elements of these interactive effects on soil and vegetation on new and established ski slopes. We also set a research agenda with specific studies that could further advance our understanding of interacting ski slope management, winter climate, vegetation–soil feedbacks and ecosystem functioning. In such new investigations, alpine climate change ecology can probably learn much from the “experimental” disturbance and snow manipulations on ski slopes and vice versa.     

Alpine and subalpine snow patch vegetation on the Bogong High Plains,SE Australia

Abstract. Snow patch vegetation in Australia is rare, being restricted to the relatively small area of alpine and subalpine country in the highlands of southeastern Australia. Snow patch vegetation occurs on steeper, sheltered southeastern slopes, where snow persists until well into the growing season (December/January). We surveyed the vegetation of 33 snow patch sites in the alpine and subalpine tracts of the Bogong High Plains, within the Alpine National Park, in Victoria. The vegetation was dominated by herbs and graminoids, with few shrubs and mosses. Major structural assemblages identified included closed herb‐fields dominated by Celmisia spp, and grasslands dominated by Poa fawcettiae or Poa costiniana. These assemblages occurred on mineral soils. Open herb‐fields dominated by Caltha introloba and several sedge species occurred on rocky and stony substrata. Vegetation‐environment relationships were explored by ordination and vector fitting. There was significant variation in the floristic composition of snow patch vegetation as a function of duration of snow cover, altitude, slope and site rockiness. Alpine sites were floristically distinct from subalpine sites, with a greater cover of Celmisia spp. and a lesser cover of low shrubs in the former. There was floristic variation within some snow patches as a function of slope position (upper, middle or lower slope) but this was not consistent across sites. The current condition of snow patch vegetation on the Bogong High Plains is degraded, with bare ground exceeding 20% cover at most sites. Snow patch vegetation is utilized preferentially by domestic cattle, which graze parts of the Bogong High Plains in summer. Such grazing is a potential threat to this rare vegetation type.     

Carex sempervirens tussocks induce spatial heterogeneity in litter decomposition, but not in soil properties, in a subalpine grassland in the Central Alps

Tussocks of graminoids can induce spatial heterogeneity in soil properties in dry areas with discontinuous vegetation cover, but little is known about the situation in areas with continuous vegetation and no study has tested whether tussocks can induce spatial heterogeneity in litter decomposition. In a subalpine grassland in the Central Alps where vegetation cover is continuous, we measured soil properties [concentration of N, C, organic matter (OM) and pH] and monitored litter decomposition traits (dry mass loss, loss of C, N, P and K) inside and outside tussocks of Carex sempervirens. Soil C, N, OM concentrations or pH inside tussocks did not differ significantly from those outside tussocks. After 1 year of decomposition, litter dry mass loss, C and K loss were significantly smaller inside than outside tussocks. The slower litter decomposition inside tussocks was likely caused by the elevated tussock base, which made environmental conditions inside tussocks much dryer than those outside in early spring when snow melts. Our results suggest that in areas with continuous vegetation cover tussocks induce spatial heterogeneity in litter decomposition but not in soil properties.     

Positive sport–biosphere interactions? — Cross-country skiing delays spring phenology of meadow vegetation

Space requirements by winter sports and accelerating global warming are usually perceived as stressors for mountain meadow plant communities. Cross-country ski track preparation (i.e. grooming), however, might retard effects of climate change and, being limited in space requirements, might increase abiotic heterogeneity. The effect of cross-country ski tracks on meadow vegetation was quantified along a representative ski track that had been operated for 30 years in the Fichtelgebirge, a low mountain range in central Europe. Paired sampling was implemented to assess the effect of skiing operations on snow and soil properties, plant phenology, biomass production and species composition. Additionally, boosted regression tree analyses were used to quantify the relative importance of the cross-country ski track compared to other environmental conditions.The cross-country ski track strongly increased snow density, enhanced soil frost, and retarded snowmelt, thereby delaying flower phenology (by 2.1 days) and the early development stages of plant species on the track. However, biomass, species richness and species composition were unaffected by skiing operations except for one species (Leontodon autumnalis) showing exclusive occurrence on the track while four others showed reduced relative occurrence on the track.While snow and soil properties were influenced by cross-country ski track preparation, natural environmental variability was more influential for species composition and biomass production than the ski track. We therefore conclude that the ski track – without artificial snow – did not negatively affect species composition. By delaying flower phenology, effects of the ski track even counteracted global warming to some degree. Due to their small spatial extent in the landscape, these ski tracks may add to environmental heterogeneity and thus support sustaining diverse species compositions during environmental changes.     

Ski slope vegetation at Snoqualmie Pass, Washington State, USA, and a comparison with ski slope vegetation in temperate coniferous forest zones

Ski slope vegetation at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State, USA, was surveyed in order to identify community types and to compare it with vegetation development patterns in Japan. Ski slopes in Japan, most of which were constructed after 1960, underwent heavy land recontouring, while those at Snoqualmie Pass were constructed before 1950 with less modification. Three points apply to Japanese ski slope vegetation and differentiate these slopes from those at Snoqualmie Pass: (i) grasslands of introduced species are widespread and persistent; (ii) unvegetated patches are uncommon; and (iii) wetland vegetation has developed. These differences are mainly derived from the intensity of human impact, history of the slope and its scale: namely, ski slopes in Washington are older and larger than those in Japan. Ski slope vegetation in Washington was primarily differentiated by a soil moisture gradient. The large size of Washington ski slopes permitted the inclusion and development of wetland habitats, whereas most ski slopes in Japan are constructed on ridges and do not contain wetlands. Most introduced species in Japan are eliminated soon after seeding. In contrast, the long-term management of ski slopes decreased soil erosion and/or unvegetated patches in Washington and created relatively permanent grasslands composed of introduced species. Tsuga heterophylla and Abies amabilis were found established on the ski slopes in Washington, whereas in Japan the pioneer tree species are shade-intolerant broadleaved species. These differences may be a result of the different disturbance histories of ski slopes in the two countries. In addition, along with the conifers, early successional forbs such as Anaphalis margaritacea and Epilobium angustifolium are well established on Washington ski slopes. Results show that disturbances created by ski slope development greatly affect the vegetation, even on older, less heavily impacted ski slopes.     

川西高山林线交错带凋落物纤维素分解酶活性研究

以川西高山林线交错带3种典型植被类型(针叶林、高山灌丛、高山草甸)下两个层次(LF层: 新鲜凋落物层和发酵层; H层: 腐殖质层)的凋落物为研究对象, 分别模拟凋落物分解的前期和后期阶段, 对凋落物分解过程中的纤维素酶活性及凋落物质量进行了研究。结果表明, 凋落物分解前期的纤维素酶活性和纤维素含量均显著高于分解后期, 但植被类型对LF和H层的纤维素含量的影响都不显著。双因素方差分析结果表明, 凋落物分解阶段对纤维素酶活性和纤维素含量的影响比植被类型对纤维素酶活性和纤维素含量的影响更大。不同种类的纤维素酶活性在分解前期和分解后期受到不同因子的限制。凋落物分解前期, 微晶纤维素酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性可能受N、P含量的限制, 而羧甲基纤维素酶主要受底物纤维素含量控制; 凋落物分解后期, 羧甲基纤维素酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶可能受C、N含量的限制。生态化学计量学的理论预测, 底物质量比C:N > 27或C:P > 186时会限制微生物生长, 因此判断高山林线交错带凋落物微生物生物量和纤维素酶活性同时受到底物N、P的限制, 尤其是高山草甸上微生物生物量在凋落物分解前期受到底物N、P的限制比分解后期更显著, 这充分说明了底物质量调控着凋落物分解过程中的纤维素酶活性和微生物生物量。     

拉萨藏雪鸡春季栖息地选择

2005年3—4月,在拉萨曲水县雄色寺周围山上的灌丛地,对藏雪鸡栖息地选择,通过调查和测量与其有关的14个参数,发现雪鸡喜欢在灌丛盖度较低、距离民居近的地方觅食,并喜欢在灌丛盖度较低、草本种类较少、草本盖度较低、岩石较多、距民房距离较近的地方休息。另外还发现,人类保护和投食对雪鸡栖息地选择也有很大的影响。调查结果显示,研究地区的雪鸡活动在很大程度上依赖人类活动。     

Habitat selection of the Tibetan Snow Cock Tetraogallus tibetanus in the spring in Lhasa

The habitat selection of Tibetan Snow Cocks in shrub vegetation was investigated in Lhasa, Tibet, China, between March and April, 2005. Fourteen parameters were measured. These include altitude, slope, slope aspect, slope position, vegetation cover, plant type and other environmental parameters. Results show that Snow Cocks favor foraging in areas where vegetation cover was small and close to the residents’ houses. Supplementary food supplied by humans has caused Snow Cocks to decrease their foraging range. Snow Cocks also favor roosting in areas with low vegetation, sparse grass, short grass, large rocks and close to houses. The Snow Cocks’ activity in the study areas show a close relationship with human activities. __________ Translated from Zoological Research, 2006, 27(5): 513–517 [译自: 动物学研究]     

Potential contribution of the seed bank in coniferous plantations to the restoration of native deciduous forest vegetation

In this study, we compared the soil seed bank and current vegetation under coniferous plantations and adjacent native deciduous forests. The objective was to assess how much of the initial plant diversity is retained in such plantations, and the potential to restore this initial plant community from seed bank in case of reversion to broadleave stands. Four stands growing side by side and with different dominant species were selected at two locations (site of Haye: Quercus petraea, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies; site of La Petite-Pierre: Quercus petraea, Fagus sylvatica, Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies). In each stand, ground vegetation was surveyed and soil seed bank was sampled. Composition of ground flora and seed bank of stands were quite different: only 11 to 30 % of the species were in both the ground flora and the seed bank. Composition of the seed bank was mainly influenced by site location and sylvicultural practices such as the type of afforestation or the tree cover. Species richness of seed banks and vegetation were higher in the site of Haye than in the site of La Petite-Pierre. Seedling density strongly decreased with stand age. Whereas between 65 and 86 % of species found in the ground vegetation of native deciduous stand were also present in the understory or the seed bank of mature coniferous stands, this was only about 50 % in young coniferous stands. Species of deciduous stands which were absent from coniferous stands were typical of old forests. In contrast, species mainly found in the coniferous stands were often ruderal. In the studied areas, it would be possible to restore up to 86 % of the native deciduous forest vegetation, but some plant species typical of ancient forests may have disappeared during the coniferous stage.     

Impacts of recreation management practices in a subalpine wetland system dominated by the willow plant, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salix planifolia</Emphasis>

Wetland habitat in the subalpine Rocky Mountains is an area of high biodiversity and includes many species of willow. These willow-dominated communities are often used for both summer and winter recreation. The maintenance of winter recreation trails has the potential to disturb wetland vegetation and compromise the long-term persistence of the wetland. In Breckenridge, Colorado, willow plants are clipped in October to a uniform height to prevent stems from protruding through the snow onto the ski trails, and large grooming tractors compact the snow on the trails. Our objective was to investigate the impact of winter recreation trail maintenance on growth and reproductive output of Salix planifolia (common names: planeleaf or diamondleaf willow) and to determine impacts on community diversity in a willow-dominated wetland system. Catkin production, plant height, and branch elongation were evaluated in meter-squared quadrats within paired belt transects both inside and outside a ski trail during the growing seasons of 2008 and 2009. In addition, percent cover of total vegetation was estimated for each species to calculate species richness and diversity. We found that maintenance of winter trails reduced catkin production and limited willow growth. Additionally, winter trail maintenance may have promoted the introduction of invasive species within the willow community. The activities associated with winter trail maintenance could interfere with the long-term persistence of the willow community adjacent to ski trails and should be considered when planning new trails in or along a wetland ecosystem.     

不同林龄马尾松凋落物基质质量与土壤养分的关系

凋落物的质量、数量及分解速率在一定程度上代表了土壤的营养状况。为了精确估算凋落物分解对土壤碳库的年净归还量及凋落物-土壤生物化学连续体的深层理解,从凋落物基质质量的角度分析了三峡库区不同林龄马尾松凋落物基质质量与土壤养分的作用关系,结果表明:中龄林、近熟林、成熟林马尾松凋落物基质质量中的C、C/N比、C/P比、木质素/N比、木质素/P比差异显著,其中近熟林凋落物叶木质素/N分别比中龄林和成熟林的高33.65%、39.24%,N、P、K、木质素含量差异不显著;但各组织器官的N、P、K含量差异显著,均是皮<枝<叶<杂物,C/N比、C/P比的变化则相反。不同林龄马尾松0-20 cm(0-5 cm、5-10 cm、10-20 cm)土壤有机质、总氮、有效磷含量均表现出近熟林<中龄林<成熟林,0-5 cm最大,10-20 cm最小,且随着土壤深度的增加而明显降低,总磷则是中林龄最低,成熟林最大,pH值则各土层均表现为中龄林<成熟林<近熟林,平均pH值为4.55-5.51。凋落物基质质量指标与土壤养分之间冗余分析(RDA)表明:马尾松凋落物基质质量和土壤养分之间关系紧密,N、P、纤维素、半纤维素、木质素、木质素/N比、C/N比对土壤养分影响比较大;凋落物中木质素/N比、C/N比与土壤有机质呈显著负相关,其含量越高越不利于土壤有机质的形成,土壤养分积累的越慢;凋落物基质质量氮含量与土壤氮含量呈显著正相关;土壤pH值、容重与N含量呈显著负相关,与凋落物C/N比、木质素/N比呈显著正相关。马尾松土壤表面有机质、N、P养分含量与凋落物基质质量对应养分含量变化规律一致,土壤养分高,凋落物基质质量相对较高,土壤贫瘠,凋落物基质质量相对较低。     

Overstory vegetation and successional trends of Land Between The Lakes,USA

133 stands from the uplands of Land Between The Lakes (LBL) were sampled. Stand data were ordinated to identify clinal patterns in the overstory vegetation. A coeno-cline, accounting for 52% of the species variance, was developed from the first ordination axis. Classification of stands identified nine dominance types: Pinus echinata-Quercus spp., Q. prinus, Q. prinus-Q. alba, Q. stellata-Q. alba, Q. velutina-Q. alba, Q. alba, Q. alba-Q. rubra, Acer saccharum-Q. alba-Fagus grandifolia sadF. grandifolia-A. saccharum. Compositionally-stable (climax) and unstable (successional) stands were analyzed separately. Trajectories of unstable stands include the succession of P. echinata to Quercus-dominated communities on xeric sites and of Quercus types to more mesophytic communities (e.g. A. saccharum and F. grandifolia) onmesic sites. These shifts indicate the nature of the future climax overstory composition at LBL. The first axis DCCA ordination for climax stands accounted for 45% of the vegetation variance. Factor Analysis identified two significant suites of variables related to vegetation: soil chemistry/soil moisture and soil texture. Specific variables related to variation in the climax vegetation include soil pH, calcium and magnesium, effective soil depth, available water capacity, percent rock in the soil, slope position, aspect, elevation and distance to the opposing slope. Modal positions of species along the direct gradient ordination were similar in rank order to those derived from the indirect gradient ordination of all stands. The latter ordination represents the present forest vegetation pattern at LBL. Climax stands showed a shift in modes of Quercus spp. toward the xeric end of the gradient and increases in habitat width of mesophytic species. Following a reduction in disturbance, species appear to adjust to changes in competition and available habitat. That is, the dimensions of realized niches (i.e. habitat widths) change with succession. The climax vegetation at LBL appears to show centrifugal organization.     

Microbial activity in reclaimed and unreclaimed post-mining sites near Sokolov (Czech Republic)

Microbial activity reflects soil conditions and degree of development. The aim of this study was to compare microbial properties of reclaimed and unreclaimed post-mining soil. Microbial biomass, microbial respiration, and cellulose decomposition were quantified in two chronosequences of post-mining sites located in the Sokolov brown-coal mining area. The first chronosequence consisted of five sites reclaimed with an alder plantation (Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana), and the other consisted of five unreclaimed sites naturally colonized by local vegetation (especially Salix caprea, Betula pendula and Populus tremula). The spoil material of all the studied sites consisted of tertiary clays without any topsoil cover.Microbial respiration per unit of soil mass as well as per unit of soil area decreased as site age increased. Microbial biomass, whether expressed as a function of soil mass or area, increased with site age in both reclaimed and unreclaimed sites. When expressed per m², proportion of deeper soil layers (5–10 cm) on overall microbial biomass in 0–10 cm layer increased with site age. This increase was more pronounced in reclaimed than in unreclaimed sites. Cellulose decomposition was highest in 8-year-old sites in the reclaimed chronosequence and in 17–21-year-old sites in the unreclaimed chronosequence. The cellulose decomposition rate was higher in reclaimed than in unreclaimed sites. In reclaimed sites, the decomposition rate depended on air temperature, while in unreclaimed sites other factors, such as moisture deficiency, seemed to drive decomposition rate in some locations. Overall, microbial activity increased faster in reclaimed than in unreclaimed sites, and this difference was most evident in younger sites.     

高山林线交错带高山杜鹃的凋落物分解

凋落物分解是维持生态系统生产力、养分循环、土壤有机质形成的关键生态过程。高山林线交错带是陆地生态系统中对气候变化响应的敏感区域。季节变化和海拔梯度上的植被类型差异可能会影响该区域凋落物的分解,进而对高山生态系统的碳氮循环产生重要影响。采用凋落物分解袋的方法,研究了川西高山林线交错带优势种高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)凋落叶在雪被期和生长季的分解特征。结果显示:(1)季节变化和植被类型对高山杜鹃凋落物的分解均具有显著影响(P0.05),凋落叶的质量损失主要发生在生长季且在高山林线最大,暗针叶林中雪被期的质量损失略高于生长季,但差异不显著;(2)林线交错带上高山杜鹃凋落叶分解缓慢,一年干物质失重率为9.62%,拟合分解系数k为0.145;(3)高山杜鹃凋落叶的质量变化主要体现在纤维素降解显著且集中在雪被期,木质素无明显降解,在高山林线上C/N、C/P、木质素/N变化幅度较小且C、N、P的释放表现得稳定而持续。结果表明,季节性雪被对林线交错带内高山杜鹃分解的影响不仅局限在雪被期内,雪被融化期间频繁的冻融作用和雪融水淋洗作用可能会促进高山杜鹃凋落物在生长季初期的分解。总的来看,在气候变暖的情景下,雪被的缩减、生长季的延长和高山杜鹃群落的扩张可能加速高山林线交错带高山杜鹃凋落物的分解。     

Relation of the snow cover to the structure of vegatation in the alpine communities of the eastern Tsinghai-Tibet Plateau

The type of snow cover considerably influences the sctructure of vegetation and production-related processes in alpine communities of diverse regions. The relation of snow cover thickness to the structure of apline plant communities in the eastern Tsinghai-Tibet Plateau (Sichuan, People's Republic of China) was studied by analyzing the vegetation in 251 sample areas grouped in five transects along the gradient of mesotopographic conditions and wintertime snow cover thickness. Considerable differentiation of plant communities related to snow cover thickness in revealed along the line from the northern to the southern slope. It is shown that the influence of snow cover on the distribution of particular plant species is significantly greater than the influence of soil properties (pH, content of humus, total phosphorus, potassium, and ammonia nitrogen in the upper strata of soil). Among the 56 herbaceous plant species and 7 shrub species studied, 52 herbaceous and all the 7 shrub species showed significant (P < 0.05) correlation (positive or negative) to snow cover thickness. Snow cover thickness appeared also significantly correlated to a number of soil properties: soil thickness, content of water, total phosphorus, and humus. But, in contrast to the alpine communities of the Caucasus and the Alps, no considerable acidification of the soil under snowflakes, due to perpetual removal of cations by melt water, was observed.     

Classification ofAthyrium and allied genera of Japan

The classification ofAthyrium sensu lato is revised on the basis of evidence from anatomical and morphological observations. Although parallelism is found in several characteristics, stipe base, groove of frond axis, laminar margin, venation, sorus and dermal appendage are important to classify the genus and elucidate the relationship within it.Athyrium sensu lato is divided into four generaAthyrium, Cornopteris, Deparia andDiplazium, small genera being referred toAthyrium orDiplazium, Deparia is construed in a broad sense to includeAthyriopsis, Dryoathyrium andLunathyrium. The four genera with infrageneric groups or sections are described in detail. Among the genera,Athyrium, particularly theA. puncticaule group, may be considered to have primitive characteristics, andCornopteris may have been derived fromAthyrium by abortion of the indusia.Cystopteris is also related toAthyrium on the basis of reniform sori inC. douglasii.     

半干旱黄土丘陵区不同人工植被恢复土壤水分的相对亏缺

土壤水分是制约半干旱黄土丘陵区植被恢复和生态建设的关键因子。而缺乏科学指导的人工植被恢复会加剧土壤水分耗竭,造成土壤水分亏缺,从而严重阻碍该区生态系统恢复和脆弱生境的有效改善。本研究以典型半干旱黄土丘陵区甘肃定西龙滩流域为例,对比不同植被恢复模式下土壤储水状况,并通过构建土壤水分相对亏缺指数CSWDI（Compared Soil Water Deficit Index）和样地土壤水分相对亏缺指数PCSWDI（Plot Compared Soil Water Deficit Index）进行定量化分析与评价,发现各人工植被均存在不同程度的土壤水分亏缺。其中,柠条、油松、山杏林地PCSWDI分别达到0.65、0.62、0.62,土壤水分亏缺严重,尤其是100 cm以下土层;山毛桃林地和苜蓿草地PCSWDI分别为0.38和0.17,在100—200 cm土层有一定程度的水分亏缺,但相对较轻;侧柏林地土壤水分的亏缺主要集中在20—100 cm这一层次,100 cm以下则随深度增加而降低;0—200 cm土层内,杨树林地、撂荒草地和马铃薯农地无显著水分亏缺,且在0—100 cm内土壤水分有一定的补充。CSWDI和PCSWDI能有效反映不同层次和样地土壤水分相对亏缺状况,可用于同一地区不同植被恢复模式土壤水分响应的定量化分析与评估。     

Quantifying Components of Soil Respiration and Their Response to Abiotic Factors in Two Typical Subtropical Forest Stands,Southwest China

Separating the components of soil respiration and understanding the roles of abiotic factors at a temporal scale among different forest types are critical issues in forest ecosystem carbon cycling. This study quantified the proportions of autotrophic (R_A) and heterotrophic (R_H) in total soil (R_T) respiration using trenching and litter removal. Field studies were conducted in two typical subtropical forest stands (broadleaf and needle leaf mixed forest; bamboo forest) at Jinyun Mountain, near the Three Georges Reservoir in southwest China, during the growing season (Apr.–Sep.) from 2010 to 2012. The effects of air temperature (AT), soil temperature (ST) and soil moisture (SM) at 6cm depth, solar radiation (SR), pH on components of soil respiration were analyzed. Results show that: 1) SR, AT, and ST exhibited a similar temporal trend. The observed abiotic factors showed slight interannual variability for the two forest stands. 2) The contributions of R_H and R_A to R_T for broadleaf and needle leaf mixed forest were 73.25% and 26.75%, respectively, while those for bamboo forest were 89.02% and 10.98%, respectively; soil respiration peaked from June to July. In both stands, CO₂ released from the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), the strongest contributor to R_T, accounted for over 63% of R_H. 3) AT and ST were significantly positively correlated with R_T and its components (p<0.05), and were major factors affecting soil respiration. 4) Components of soil respiration were significantly different between two forest stands (p<0.05), indicating that vegetation types played a role in soil respiration and its components.     

Winter climate change implications for decomposition in northeastern forests: comparisons of sugar maple litter with herbivore fecal inputs

Forests in northeastern North America are influenced by varying climatic and biotic factors; however, there is concern that rapid changes in these factors may lead to important changes in ecosystem processes such as decomposition. Climate change (especially warming) is predicted to increase rates of decomposition in northern latitudes. Warming in winter may result in complex effects including decreased levels of snow cover and an increased incidence of soil freezing that will effect decomposition. Along with these changes in climate, moose densities have also been increasing in this region, likely affecting nutrient dynamics. We measured decomposition and N release from ¹⁵N‐labeled sugar maple leaf litter and moose feces over 20 months in reference and snow removal treatment (to induce soil freezing) plots in two separate experiments at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, USA. Snow removal/soil freezing decreased decomposition of maple litter, but stimulated N transfer to soil and microbial biomass. Feces decomposed more rapidly than maple litter, and feces N moved into the mineral soil more than N derived from litter, likely due to the lower C : N ratio of feces. Feces decomposition was not affected by the snow removal treatment. Total microbial biomass (measured as microbial N and C) was not significantly affected by the treatments in either the litter or feces plots. These results suggest that increases in soil freezing and/or large herbivore populations, increase the transfer rate of N from plant detritus or digested plants into the mineral soil. Such changes suggest that altering the spatial and temporal patterns of soil freezing and moose density have important implications for ecosystem N cycling.     

Soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation within hillslope vegetation restoration sites in Jinshajing hot-dry river valley

Soil seed bank plays an important role in the composition of different plant communities, especially in their conservation. Although soil seed bank, aboveground vegetation and their relationship have been the subject of much recent attention, little is known about the size and species composition of the soil seed bank and about the aboveground vegetation in the semiarid hillslope grasslands. There is limited understanding of how these components interact to determine the importance of seed banks in regeneration. In this study, the size and species composition of a soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation have been assessed in an experiment using 36 vegetation quadrats and 108 soil samples in terrace, slope, gully, and grazing land. This land represents a range of habitats within a hillslope grassland in Jinshajing hot-dry river valley of Yunnan, China. Terrace, slope, and gully represent restored sites and grazing land typifies unrestored sites. Twenty-one taxa in the seed bank were identified with a median and median density of 7 species/m² and 5498 seeds/m², respectively, whereas in the aboveground vegetation, 19 species were observed with a median and median density of 6 species/m² and 1088 plants/m², respectively. Both seed bank density and aboveground vegetation density among grazing land, gully, slope, and terrace differed significantly. There was an absolutely high proportion of herbaceous species in the seed bank and aboveground vegetation. Gramineae predominated over both seed bank and vegetation. The most frequent seeds and plants were Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus and Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv that had the highest individual number, importance value, and biomass. In the seed bank, the seeds of Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus and Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv accounted for 50.68% and 33.10% of the total seeds, respectively. In the aboveground vegetation, the individual number of Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus and Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv accounted for 55.66% and 29.86% of the total, respectively. The biomass of Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus and Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv accounted for more than 70% of the total, reaching 206.71 g/m² and 147.76 g/m², respectively. Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus and Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv had the highest importance value of 193.01 and 159.99, respectively. Density, biomass, species richness, species diversity, and evenness were the highest in terrace land, whereas these were lowest in grazing land. Similarities between the seed bank and the aboveground vegetation were moderately high and not very different among slope, gully, and terrace lands, while for grazing land, they tended to increase when the restorative stage progressed. This result contrasts with some other studies where the seed bank contributes very little to the seedling flora and the vegetative growth clearly overwhelms sexual reproduction. The hypothesis about significant functional correlation between soil seed bank density and aboveground vegetation density is conformed. Correlation between soil seed bank density and aboveground vegetation density can be described in quadratic and cubic curves. The strong similarity between the vegetation and the seed bank is attributed to a large proportion of the species Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus and Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv., which are seed profusive and whose seeds have a significant viability in the ground. The high density, biomass, species richness, species diversity, and uniformity of the reclaimed site are related to the sufficiency of heat and water supplies for species establishment and growth in the site, which partly reflects the effective efforts for hillslope grassland restoration. It is believed that the efforts for vegetation restoration have altered the microhabitat conditions of the site and have provided a favorable habitat for species to establish and grow.