Small-scale switch in cover–perimeter relationships of patches indicates shift of dominant species during grassland degradation

草地生态系统普遍经受着全球气候变化和不可持续的土地利用方式的胁迫,这些环境胁迫往往引起草地生态系统状态在多稳态间 跃变,甚至诱发灾变性跃变,直至荒漠化的发生。研究表明,植被斑块的空间构型可以指示较大空间尺度的生态系统状态跃变。本文展示了小尺度 斑块构型如何指示草地生态系统的状态跃变。在高寒草甸生态系统选取7种草甸群落类型作为研究对象,这7种类型的草甸群落 具有高寒草甸退化过程不同阶段的典型群落特征。在每一种群落类型内,采用样带方法进行植被斑块调查,沿样带采用邻接格子样方法 记录样方内的斑块数量、斑块周长和斑块面积,并测定了每个斑块内的物种多度。研究结果表明,沿着草甸退化阶段七种 类型的草甸群落(即未退化的禾草-嵩草群落、轻度退化的高山嵩草-禾草群落、中度退化的高山嵩草群落、重度退化草皮开裂的高 山嵩草群落、侵蚀期的高山嵩草-杂草群落、严重侵蚀期的杂草-高山嵩草群落、零星杂草的黑土滩裸地),斑块数量和斑块周长随斑块面积的下降呈现先增加的变化趋势,而后,随斑块面积的急剧降低呈下降的趋势。斑块数量、周长与面积关系变化的拐点出现在植被总面积约占68%的状态处。在这一拐点附近,斑块上的植物组成呈现出高山嵩草或杂草占优势两种状态往复波动的不稳定状态,表明草地状态处于向荒漠化裸地跃变的边缘。本研究展示了如何基于小尺度植被斑块空间构型为草地退化、状态跃变提供数量化的早期预警信号,有望为嵩草草甸退化至黑土滩裸地的早期预警提供判定指标。     

江河源区高寒草甸退化序列土壤粒径分布及其分形维数

江河源区高寒草甸退化日益严重,恢复治理已进行了大量工作,但收效甚微,主要是对退化机理认识不清.为阐明退化草地的形成机制,
本文以江河源区高寒草甸为对象,分析退化序列土壤粒径的分布特征、分形维数,以及分形维数与土壤侵蚀模数的关系.结果表明: 随着高寒草甸退化加剧,土壤的黏粒百分含量呈增加趋势,粉砂和极细砂呈减小趋势;退化序列土壤粒径分形维数与黏粒百分含量呈显著正相关,与极细砂和粉砂呈显著负相关;各粒级土壤侵蚀模数与分形维数呈二次函数关系,分形维数2.81为土壤侵蚀发生的阈值.以土壤粒径分形维数2.81作为草地恢复指标,选择使分形维数小于2.81的相应措施,是恢复退化草地的有力保证.     

土壤元素失衡是导致高寒草甸退化的重要诱因

土壤元素失衡是造成高寒草甸退化的关键诱因,明晰其过程与机制是高寒草甸生态系统可持续利用和退化草地恢复的重要内容。以我国典型青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统为研究对象,选取围封1年样地作为短期恢复、围封6年样地作为中期恢复及围封15年样地作为长期恢复阶段,分析了这些样地的土壤基本理化性质。研究发现,退化高寒草甸的恢复未改变土壤pH,但增大了土壤保水能力和电导率。土壤有机碳和全氮含量随恢复进程变化敏感,而磷含量的变化并不明显,随着恢复时间的增加土壤C∶N,C∶P和N∶P显著升高,土壤可利用氮素特别是铵态氮的供应能力得到显著提升,长期恢复阶段的土壤铵态氮含量为短期恢复阶段的3.1倍。退化草地的恢复大幅度增加了高寒草甸生态系统地上生物量,这进一步增加了植物对土壤中的碳和氮输入,使土壤中的碳氮周转变快,诱发了植物-土壤之间的正反馈,形成良性循环,使退化草甸得以改善。本研究从退化高寒草甸恢复角度初步证实,土壤碳氮与磷元素比例失衡是造成高寒草地退化的重要诱因,研究结果对高寒草地的养护管理以及退化高寒草地的恢复工作具有重要意义。     

青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统的恢复能力

近年来,青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统呈现退化的趋势.本文利用中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站多年观测的长时间序列数据,采用定量方法度量高寒草甸自然生态系统的恢复能力,评估该系统的持久性,并结合系统现状提出避免系统崩溃的对策.结果表明,高寒草甸净初级生产力的动态行为以对降水和气温的即时直接响应为主.无论是净初级生产力对自身的"记忆"程度,还是主要气候因子对初级生产力的"滞后"作用,均比较微弱,说明高寒草甸生态系统有较强的恢复能力,即有较强的持久能力.与世界其他地区草地生态系统恢复能力度量结果相比较,高寒草甸生态系统显示较强的恢复能力.科学地利用高寒草地资源,积极恢复治理退化草地,是维持脆弱的高寒草甸生态系统持久的关键.     

青藏高原高寒矮嵩草草甸碳增汇潜力估测方法

以广布于青藏高原的高寒矮嵩草草甸为研究对象,研究了草甸碳储存的场所、碳库容量随草甸演替的变化过程及其碳增汇潜力的空间分布格局,同时探讨了高寒草甸碳增汇潜力估测的困惑与解决方法。结果表明,高寒草甸生态系统碳增汇潜力空间分布格局差异极大,主要受到土层厚度和草地演化进程的影响。高寒草甸碳主要贮存于草毡表层,其增汇潜力在于退化草地草毡表层的恢复与重建。保持适宜厚度的草毡表层是协调高寒草甸生产与碳生态服务功能的关键。随着退化高寒草甸的恢复,土壤容重呈现下降趋势,计算其系统碳增汇潜力,需要用根土体积比进行土层深度的校正。高寒草甸具有较大的固碳潜力,但其潜力的发挥受到气候和草地恢复与管理措施的影响,比较漫长。     

高原鼠兔跑道对高寒草甸退化斑块扩大与连通的影响

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)的活动会在退化高寒草甸草地上形成退化斑块,退化斑块的连通会导致高寒草甸破碎化,对高寒草甸完整性造成严重影响。本研究使用无人机拍摄不同刈割强度和鼠兔密度处理下高寒草甸图像,解译出退化斑块和高原鼠兔跑道。从地理信息系统中获得退化斑块面积信息,计算跑道连通性指数,识别高原鼠兔跑道在高寒草甸退化过程中的作用,确定高原鼠兔干扰活动对高寒草甸影响的临界条件。结果表明:高密度高原鼠兔处理的鼠兔跑道数显著增加(P0.05);退化斑块面积增量与连通性指数呈显著正相关(P0.05);高原鼠兔洞口数对鼠兔密度的处理不敏感(P0.05);随着退化斑块面积的增加,高原鼠兔洞口数显著减少(P0.05),高原鼠兔跑道连通性指数呈抛物线变化;高原鼠兔跑道是导致高寒草甸退化斑块扩大的原因之一,也会加速高寒草甸退化斑块的连通;当退化斑块面积达到临界值21%时,高寒草甸破碎化程度加剧。     

基于改进的Lotka-Volterra种间竞争模型预测退化高寒草地人工恢复演替结果

结合青藏高原地区黑土滩型退化高寒草甸改建成人工草地后恢复过程中植物群落组分的数量特征变化,基于中心差分法、相对误差热图、ODE算法等研究方法进行计算机模拟,对Lotka-Volterra种间竞争模型进行非线性化改进,建立了适于高寒草地人工恢复演替过程中的竞争效应预测模型,与经典的Lotka-Volterra种间竞争模型进行对比验证,实证了改进模型的可解性和准确性。并分析了改进的Lotka-Volterra模型的系统动力学行为,预测人工恢复植物群落各组分的竞争结局,判断人工草地恢复演替状况。结果表明:(1)随着恢复年限的增加,栽培植物(垂穗披碱草或草地早熟禾)与原生植物在经历一个激烈的竞争阶段后逐渐趋于动态平衡,表明人工种植的垂穗披碱草、草地早熟禾等本土植物,可以促进青藏高原地区"黑土滩"型退化高寒草甸的有效恢复;(2)综合各分组的恢复演替阶段特征,可食牧草、栽培植物和顶极植物均从第7年开始竞争力呈现明显下降的趋势,因此建议在对人工草地的恢复管理中,7—10年间进行适度的人为干预,如施肥、灭鼠害以及适当去除有毒有害杂草等;(3)综合各类植物的竞争演替预测情况,均从第20年左右开始逐渐趋于动态平衡。因此,根据该模型分析,从生态恢复的角度来看,"黑土滩"型退化草地进行人工恢复至少需要20年以上,才能获得较为稳定的植物群落。     

青藏高原区退化高寒草甸植被和土壤特征

高寒草甸约占青藏高原草地的46.7%,是我国草地生态系统重要的组成部分。近年来,在气候变化和人为活动的影响下,高寒草甸生态系统退化严重,植被和土壤均呈现出不同的退化趋势。在大空间尺度上表现为草地覆盖度下降,杂草类植被增加,土壤退化甚至沙化;在微观尺度上,退化高寒草甸的土壤粒径、土壤微生物和土壤酶也发生改变。本研究从高寒草甸物种多样性、植物群落结构、植被生物量、土壤物理性质、土壤微生物、土壤酶和土壤养分等方面,分析了高寒草甸生态系统退化过程中植被和土壤的变化特征,提出当前研究中存在的一些不确定性和有待深入研究的问题,为全面了解高寒草甸的退化机制和规律、有效干预高寒草甸生态系统和恢复生态功能提供科学依据。     

青藏高原高寒草甸初级生产力及其主要影响因素

青藏高原有各类天然草地14×108hm2,其中高寒草甸和高寒灌丛约占青藏高原天然草地面积的50%,占全国草地总面积的16.2%。嵩草草甸是高寒草甸的主体,包括矮嵩草草甸、金露梅灌丛草甸、藏嵩草草甸、小嵩草草甸和高山嵩草草甸等,这5类高寒草甸平均地上生物量分别为354.2、422.4、445.1、227.3和368.5g/m2,地下生物量分别为3389.6、3548.3、11922.7、4439.3、5604.8g/m2,地下与地上生物量的比例分别为10.55、10.15、27.82、14.82和15.21,远大于IPCC(2006)报告中地下/地上生物量比例的默认值(2.8±95%)。地下生物量对气候变化和放牧的反应比地上生物量更敏感,干旱和重度放牧均降低了地下/地上生物量的比例。在极度退化状态下地下/地上生物量的比例2。对于轻度和中度退化的高寒草甸应以围封禁牧为主要恢复措施,但如果结合补播和施肥,则恢复速率会加快;对于重度和极度退化的高寒草甸,由于草地植物群落中优良牧草的比例极低,仅靠自然恢复很难进行恢复或需要的年限很长,所以必须采用人工重建的措施,并结合毒杂草防除和施肥等措施进行恢复,通过建立人工或半人工草地的措施予以重建。     

不同演替状态下高寒草甸土壤物理性质与植物根系的相互关系

采用空间代时间的方法,以高寒嵩草草甸不同退化演替状态土壤物理性质(土壤机械阻力、温度、湿度)为变量,探讨高寒草甸不同退化阶段土壤物理性质同植物根系生长特质的相互关系。结果表明:高寒嵩草草甸根系分布具有明显的"V"型垂直构型特征;高寒嵩草草甸根系以细根为主,直径0.5 mm的根系占全剖面根系总长的90.8%—93.6%。土壤紧实度和土壤湿度与植物根系直径细化具有显著的正相关关系(P0.05);土壤温度与根系细化之间具有显著的负相关关系(P0.05),且其对高寒嵩草草甸根系生长特性形成的贡献率最高,说明高寒嵩草草甸植物根系生长构型特征的主控因子为温度。高寒嵩草草甸根系细化及表聚现象与土壤物理性质之间具有一定程度的互馈效应。低温、高紧实度和较高的土壤湿度有助于形成高密度和细根构型的草毡表层,这种土壤根系构型也是高寒草甸植物群落为适应放牧干扰及恶劣环境的应激性改变。该发现对明晰草地退化演替过程中生态系统构件对外界干扰改变的响应和适应过程及为制定合理有效的退化高寒草甸恢复措施提了供理论依据。     

高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠种群暴发区干扰斑块空间分布格局与演替规律

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)和高原鼢鼠(Myospalax baileyi)是两种在高寒草甸广泛分布的小型哺乳动物,其暴发活动可能造成高寒草甸的严重退化。使用无人机分别拍摄典型的高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠种群暴发区图像,解译高原鼠兔洞口、高原鼢鼠土丘和它们的干扰斑块,获得干扰斑块的周长和面积信息,计算干扰斑块形状指标,确定高原鼠兔与高原鼢鼠暴发活动对高寒草甸的影响。研究表明：(1)高原鼠兔与高原鼢鼠暴发活动形成的干扰斑块周长与面积比(PARA)、形状指数(SHAPE)和分形维数(FRAC)差异显著(P<0.05),其中高原鼢鼠斑块的FRAC是1.0124±0.0091,属于普通的规则几何圆形分布格局,高原鼠兔斑块的FRAC是1.1203±0.0546,属于分形几何不规则的分布格局。(2)高原鼠兔洞口数量与其斑块面积没有线性相关关系(P=0.9677),高原鼢鼠土丘数量与其斑块面积呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。(3)高原鼢鼠斑块面积统计学上呈长尾分布,不符合正态分布(P<0.01)。根据高原鼠兔斑块面积分布格局可将斑块演替分为三个阶段：土丘形成阶段、斑块连通...     

Landscape pattern changes across alpine shrub meadows gradient in warm-season pastures on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Grassland degradation has been one of the major ecological concerns on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) in recent years, but the degradation of alpine shrub meadows, and in particular the changes in its surface landscape pattern, has been less well assessed. This study selected a warm-season pasture on the QTP as a study area, and used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to collect aerial photographs along the degradation gradient from late June to early July 2018. We then classified the surface landscape as alpine shrub, alpine meadow, bare soil and plateau pika hole and analyzed the landscape pattern changes at different degradation levels. The results showed that the alpine shrub and alpine meadow dominated landscape degraded to a pattern of alpine meadow and bare soil dominance and pika hole pervasiveness, during which vegetation cover declined and the overall landscape pattern tended to fragment. Landscape pattern characteristics related to the area, density, connectivity and boundaries respond more clearly to the shrub degradation, with moderate degradation being the key stage at which the surface landscape pattern changes dramatically. Our study demonstrates a potential application of UAV technology in the study of grassland degradation. Future research should focus on the status, mechanisms and ecological effects of alpine shrub meadows degradation and the quantitative relationships between surface landscape patterns and ecological functions.     

Grassland connectivity explains entomophilous plant species assemblages in an agricultural landscape of the Pampa Region,Argentina

The Pampa grassland of Argentina is one of the most highly threatened biomes in the world. A high proportion of the original grassland cover has been transformed into land for agriculture or degraded. In the southern part of the region, fragmented semi‐natural grasslands over exposed rock still persist and connectivity between them is assumed to be crucial for maintaining viable populations. We quantified overall connectivity of grassland patches in a sector of the Southern Pampa region, and investigated the degree to which landscape connectivity explains entomophilous plant species assemblages in a subset of patches. We characterized each of the 301 patches in the landscape by their degree of intra‐patch and inter‐patch connectivity based on graph theory, and considering threshold dispersal distances from 100 to 1000 m. We surveyed entomophilous plant species in 39 grassland patches and classified the species in three categories (annual herbs, perennial herbs and shrubs) considering their different growth form and longevity. The influence of connectivity variables on entomophilous plant species assemblages variation was explored using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Although grassland patches were poorly connected at all threshold distances, some of them were found to be critical for global connectivity. Connectivity significantly explained total, annual‐biennial and shrub assemblages for all threshold dispersal distances (6–13% of total variation). Variation in annual species assemblages was associated with intra‐patch and inter‐patch connectivity at short distance (100 m), while variation in shrub species assemblages was explained by intra‐patch and inter‐patch connectivity for distances between 100 m and 1000 m. This study evidenced the low connectivity of the study system, allowed the identification of critical areas for conservation, and provided valuable information to develop management strategies in increasingly human‐dominated landscapes.     

黑河中游生态用地景观连接性动态变化及距离阈值

景观连接度描述了景观组分在景观格局、过程和功能上的有机联系.本文利用1986、2000和2011年土地覆被数据,基于图论方法,研究了黑河中游生态用地(林地、草地、湿地)景观连接性动态变化,并通过分析不同阈值下景观连接度值的变化揭示了研究区景观的适宜阈值.结果表明: 黑河中游1986—2011年对景观连接度产生重要作用的生态斑块面积呈减少趋势.湿地斑块面积2000—2011年减少幅度较大;草地斑块数量先减少后增加,面积变化不大,但是有斑块破碎化的趋势.不同阈值下景观连接度值的变化验证了距离阈值的正向作用.400～800 m是研究黑河中游物种扩散和生态流运行的适宜距离阈值.选择600 m作为距离阈值时,大型斑块对区域总体景观连接水平影响最为显著,是区域生态系统稳定和健康的关键组成;小型生态斑块虽然占生态斑块总面积的比例不大,但对区域的生态安全格局的维持和改善有较大影响,亦需加强保护与管理.研究结果对干旱区生态系统管理具有重要的借鉴意义.     

Effects of the spreading of ligularia virgaurea on soil physicochemical property and microbial functional diversity北大核心CSCD

Aims Ligularia virgaurea is an indicator species of alpine meadow degradation. Recently, the vast spreading of L. virgaurea has brought the serious economic loss of grassland ecosystem, but it remains unclear whether soil microbes involve in the spreading of L. virgaurea. Methods We chose four patches with different density of L. virgaurea to measure the influence of spreading of L. virgaurea on the functional diversity of soil microbial community in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Important findings The spreading of L. virgaurea increased soil microbial activity, but reduced soil available nitrogen concentration. The Shannon index, utilization number of carbon resource and evenness index of soil microbial community displayed no significant differences among patches, but the utilization structure of carbon resource in high density patch was significantly different from control patch. Our findings indicate that the limitation of soil nitrogen caused by the changing functional diversity of soil microbial community in the distributed sites is one of the mechanisms for the vast spreading of L. virgaurea in alpine meadow ecosystem. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All rights reserved.     

新疆阿勒泰地区草地类型特征及其分类经营

草地退化已严重制约着阿勒泰地区畜牧业的健康发展．通过分析不同草地类型的群落特征、生态服务价值、功能多样性和主导性,提出了阿勒泰地区草地资源分类经营的模式和策略．研究表明,生态功能区面积为164．66×10^4hm^2,占草地面积的16．73％,草地类型主要有高寒草甸和草原、沼泽、山地荒漠草原、山地草原化荒漠和部分平原荒漠,经营策略为禁牧和封育;经济功能区面积为116．33×10^4hm^2,占草地面积的11．82％,主要草地类型有山地草甸、低地草甸和草甸草原,经营策略为通过施肥、灌溉等手段,集约化管理,提高单位面积产值;混合功能区的面积为703．21×10^4hm^2,占草地总面积的71．45％,草地类型主要有山地草原、平原荒漠草原和大部分平原荒漠,经营策略是以草定畜,合理轮牧．     

高寒草甸草原景观格局动态演变及其驱动机制

高寒草甸是高寒地区重要的生态屏障和畜牧业基地,脆弱的生态环境极易受到自然和人类活动的影响。为了探究高寒草甸景观格局变化及其驱动力,以多期遥感影像和统计数据为基础数据,在遥感和GIS技术支持下,在利用景观格局指数模型来分析研究区景观格局动态演变的基础上,运用Logistic回归模型从空间角度分析了研究区重要景观演变的驱动力。结果表明：（1）研究区植被覆盖面积所占比例始终维持在80%以上,各景观类型结构变化较为明显;（2）2000-2016年高寒草甸景观类型面积变化较大,其他草甸、旱地和建设用地的面积持续增加,并且年变化速率加快,灌木林地、灌丛草甸和水域面积持续减少;各类景观面积年变化率增大,2000-2009年高寒草甸景观面积年变化率为1.118%,2009-2016年景观面积年变化率为2.067%,每年发生类型转化的景观面积约为0.691×10⁴ hm²,5大类景观转移变化面积不大,但各小类景观的转换现象很明显。（3）景观水平上的景观指数变化反映出2000-2009年景观破碎化程度较强,2009-2016年景观状态得到优化,整体趋向于整合;斑块水平上的景观指数变化反映出不同斑块类型格局差异性较大,变化特征明显。（4）海拔与坡度因子对一级分类草地景观及其二级分类灌丛草甸和其他草甸演变的影响较为显著,植被覆盖度因子对草地景观演变存在显著影响,而距离因子对灌丛草甸和其他草甸演变的影响较为显著。人文驱动因素对草原生态及景观演替起到了加速推动作用,其中,政策因素在保护和修复高寒草甸生态系统上起到了至关重要作用。     

Environmental and land use determinants of grassland patch diversity in the western and eastern Alps under agro-pastoral abandonment

Agro-pastoral decline in European mountain areas has recently caused changes to traditional landscapes with negative consequences on semi-natural grassland conservation and the associated biodiversity and ecosystem services. In the Italian Alps, grassland patches enclosed in a forest matrix are progressively disappearing. Two alpine valleys (Pesio and Pejo), having similar land-use history, were chosen as representative of management conditions of western and eastern Italian Alps, respectively. This study aims at interpreting the effect of abandonment on grassland patch plant diversity, considering land cover changes of the last 60 years, and assessing the role of ecological, topographic, management and landscape configuration on current grassland species richness. The total area of grassland patches has declined by 54 and 91 % at Pesio and at Pejo, respectively. Actual grassland patch species richness was mostly influenced by ecological factors, such as quantity of light, soil moisture and reaction, then by topographic features, especially slope, and finally by management intensity. Landscape factors exerted a slightly significant effect on plant diversity. In the two valleys, differences on management practices were detected. Even though in the western valley the conservation of several grazing activities contributed to slow down the process of patch reduction, many species-rich grasslands were generally under-grazed. Conversely, in the eastern valley, despite a denser road network, the stronger decline of grassland patch extension was linked to the hay making decline. At the same time, overuse of grassland patches near farms reduced plant species richness. As a conclusion, plant species richness was weakly related to the area of grassland patches and current and historical landscape configuration were of relatively lower importance than ecological, topographic and management factors, when evaluated at patch-level.