Soils and vegetation of central Australian sandridges I. Introduction

This is the first of a series of papers describing catenary patterns in central Australian sand-ridge soils and vegetation, and observations and experiments designed to assess the interrelationships among them and the impact of fire. The aims and study area are described and previous literature reviewed briefly. Later papers will detail soil and vegetation patterns and discuss the relative importance of the dune-swale gradients in soil texture, mobility, fertility and moisture status as controls and constraints on the vegetation, with reference to rainfall fluctuations and to changes in plant cover and environment at various time scales. These embody experimental studies on plant regeneration to suggest an overall model for the maintenance of the present open-crested dune vegetation.     

Coastal dune topography as a determinant of abiotic conditions and biological community restoration in northern KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Topography is rarely considered as an independent goal of restoration. However, topography determines microenvironmental conditions and hence living conditions for species. Restoring topography may therefore be an important first step in ecological restoration. We aimed at establishing the relative importance of topography where coastal dunes destroyed by mining are rebuilt as part of a rehabilitation program. We assessed the response of (1) microclimatic and soil conditions, and (2) woody plant and millipede species richness and density, to location-specific topographic profiles. We enumerated the topographic profile using variables of dune morphology (aspect, elevation, and gradient) as well as relative position on a dune (crest, slope, and valley). Temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity varied with aspect, elevation, gradient, and position. However, regeneration age was a better predictor of soil nutrient availability than these topographic variables. Age also interacted with topographic variables to explain tree canopy density and species richness, as well as millipede species richness. The density of keeled millipedes (forest specialists) was best explained by topographic variables alone. The transient nature of these new-growth coastal dune forests likely masks topography-related effects on communities because age-related succession (increasing structural complexity) drives the establishment and persistence of biological communities, not habitat conditions modulated by topography. However, our study has shown that the microhabitats associated with topographic variability influence specialist species more than generalists.     

内蒙古锡盟白音锡勒牧场沙地植被的空间分布格局与演替

1985—1986年期间,作者调查了白音锡勒牧场沙地植被。本文具体分析沙地植被的空间分布和动态演替。1．沙地西段的植被呈疏林灌丛草原景观,沙地东段的植被则呈密林灌丛草原景观。由西向东随着海拔高度的上升形成一个植被生态系列。植被PCA分析的结果表明沙地基质稳定性梯度和沙地环境水分梯度是控制沙地植物群落空间分布格局的两个主要环境因素。2．描述了沙地原生植被演替的各个阶段。沙地植被演替阶段与沙地固定过程相一致,群落稳定性与沙地地貌稳定性相关。由于地形分异引起立地水热条件组合变化,植被演替系列分化为阴坡系列和阳坡系列,前者向森林化方向发展,后者则沿草原化方向发展。本文还就沙地植被资源的开发、利用和保护等方面提出6项建议。     

小五台亚高山草甸与生境关系分析

该文结合野外植被调查,在获取更为详细的景观尺度生境数据基础上,探讨了小五台亚高山草甸植物群落与直接环境因子之间的定量关系。典范对应分析(CCA)的结果表明:1) 在小五台的亚高山草甸分布地段,热量、养分和水分条件构成了其生境特征差异的基本格局;2) 用效应温度和太阳直接辐射量所表征的热量因子,指示出研究区植物群落最基本的分化,说明热量条件是制约研究区草甸群落分布的最重要的因子;3) 养分状况的差异,除了说明生境条件本身的差异外,也在一定程度上指示了放牧干扰对群落分布的影响;4) 由地形等因素控制的土壤表层水分状况,则反映了草甸植物群落分布所受到的水分条件影响。     

广西岩溶植被演替过程中主要小气候因子日变化特征

选择广西不同气候带下具有典型性和代表性的岩溶区作为研究区域,调查和监测了岩溶植被演替过程中主要小气候因子的日变化特征。结果表明,在石荒漠阶段和草丛阶段,群落光照强、土温和气温高、空气相对湿度低,时间波动比较明显:灌丛阶段群落冠层以下的照度、气温均较低,随时间变化的幅度不大,而冠层以上的光照强度和气温均出现了大幅上升,而且随时间变化的幅度较大;落叶阔叶林阶段和常绿落叶阔叶混交林阶段群落内部的照度、气温及土壤温度均大幅降低,空气相对湿度保持在较大水平,主要小气候因子的时空变化比较平缓。主要小气候因子的时空动态与群落结构和群落种类组成特征密切相关。     

Soils and vegetation of central Australian sandridges. IV. Soils.

Catenary patterns on central Australian sandridges are assessed for the following soil parameters: sand depth, texture, mobility and penetrability; moisture content and characteristic; organic C content, total N and extractable P, K and Ca. There are marked dune-swale gradients in sand depth, soil texture, mobility and penetrability, moisture content at — 15 kPa, and N and organic C contents. There are dune-swale gradients in soil Ca content at a few sites only. Soil P shows significant heterogeneity but no catenary patterns, whilst K levels are homogeneous throughout. S, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Mo, Co and CI were also measured for a number of sandridge soils but showed no significant catenary patterns and were therefore not studied in detail.     

Biotic and Abiotic Changes in Ecosystem Structure over a Shrub-Encroachment Gradient in the Southwestern USA

In this study, we investigate changes in ecosystem structure that occur over a gradient of land-degradation in the southwestern USA, where shrubs are encroaching into native grassland. We evaluate a conceptual model which posits that the development of biotic and abiotic structural connectivity is due to ecogeomorphic feedbacks. Three hypotheses are evaluated: 1. Over the shrub-encroachment gradient, the difference in soil properties under each surface-cover type will change non-linearly, becoming increasingly different; 2. There will be a reduction in vegetation cover and an increase in vegetation-patch size that is concurrent with an increase in the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties over the shrub-encroachment gradient; and 3. Over the shrub-encroachment gradient, the range at which soil properties are autocorrelated will progressively exceed the range at which vegetation is autocorrelated. Field-based monitoring of vegetation and soil properties was carried out over a shrub-encroachment gradient at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, USA. Results of this study show that vegetation cover decreases over the shrub-encroachment gradient, but vegetation-patch size increases, with a concurrent increase in the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties. Typically, there are significant differences in soil properties between non-vegetated and vegetated surfaces, but for grass and shrub patches, there are only significant differences for the biotic soil properties. Results suggest that it is the development of larger, well-connected, non-vegetated patches that is most important in driving the overall behavior of shrub-dominated sites. Results of this study support the hypothesis that feedbacks of functional connectivity reinforce the development of structural connectivity, which increases the resilience of the shrub-dominated state, and thus makes it harder for grasses to re-establish and reverse the vegetation change.     

Gypsophile vegetation patterns under a range of soil properties induced by topographical position

Iberian gypsophile plant communities are considered a priority for conservation by the European Community because of their highly specialized flora in gypsum outcrops in arid and semiarid regions. Despite the ecological importance of these ecosystems, the edaphic factors that constrain plant communities on gypsiferous soils remain unclear. It has been proposed that both the chemical and physical restrictive conditions of gypsum soils determine gypsophily in plants. Here we hypothesize that the rigors of the gypsum soil environment depends on topography, decreasing from flat areas on hilltops to south-oriented slopes and finally to slopes oriented to the north. We also hypothesized that the relaxation of the rigors of the gypsum soil environment with topography affects both to individual plant and community characteristics of gypsophile vegetation: we expect a reduction of gypsophyte abundance, an increase of diversity and the amelioration of facilitative interactions of plant species. We analysed the physical and chemical properties of gypsum soils that have been proposed that determine the rigors of the gypsum soil environment (i.e.: unbalanced ion concentrations and superficial soil crust). The predicted rigor gradient along topographical locations was confirmed and was mainly caused by superficial soil crust. The decreasing rigor gradient was accompanied by a fall in the abundance of gypsophytes. However, when gypsophytes were considered separately, several patterns were observed, indicating distinct tolerance to relaxation of rigor of the gypsum soil conditions and different competition abilities between gypsophytes. Plant species were more clumped, and gypsophile communities presented higher diversity, evenness and richness values where rigor of gypsum soil conditions were maximum (flat hilltop positions). Relaxation of rigor (north-oriented slopes) was characterized by loss of facilitative interaction between species and the dominance of the gypsovag Rosmarinus officinalis L., although richness was still very high, which can be attributed to the coexistence of gypsophytes and gypsovags. We conclude that the rigor of gypsum soil environment gradient with topography is mainly determined by superficial soil crust, and it is a crucial determinant of gypsophile plant communities.     

Soils and vegetation of central Australian sandridges III. Sandridge vegetation of the Simpson Desert

This is the third of a series of papers describing the soils and vegetation of the central Australian sandridges and their interrelations. It details topographic—floristic patterns on fourteen transects at seven sites in the northwest, southwest and southeast Simpson Desert. There is a consistent vegetational zonation on the main Simpson sandridges, with regional modifications due to the broad scale NW-SE floristic gradient. Closer dunes have more similar vegetation than distant ones. Swale vegetation is less consistent than sandridge vegetation and depends on soil type. Species differ greatly in their degree of restriction both topographically and geographically. Zone separation differs greatly between dunes in consequence. Zones defined on overall floristics are less clearly separated in the Simpson than in the western deserts. A floristically and structurally distinct crest zone is recognizable on all main dunefield sandridges. The only universally applicable zonation is swale, flank, crest. Vegetation patterns are more closely correlated with field soil texture than with topography.     

Variation of carbon and nitrogen cycling processes along a topographic gradient in a central Amazonian forest

It is well recognized in the literature that topography can influence soil nutrient stocks and dynamics in temperate regions, but for tropical forests, this source of variation has sometimes been ignored. The nature of such variations may depend upon the soil type, which in turn, is closely linked to local or regional topography. This study characterizes the soil and describes the status of carbon and nitrogen in vegetation, litterfall, litter‐layer and soil upper layers along the main positions of a topographic gradient (plateau, slope and valley), 60 km north of Manaus, on Cuieiras Reserve watershed. Nitrogen concentrations in living leaves, fresh litterfall, litter‐layer and soil upper layers were lower in the valley than in both slope and plateau plots. Carbon concentrations in plant material were not significantly different among the three topographic positions, resulting in higher C : N ratios in valley plots. Local topography (plateau, slope and valley) clearly was an influential factor in the nutrient distribution along the study locations. Lower rates of N cycling processes in the valley are probably related to its sandy soil texture and seasonal flooding.     

Habitat microclimates drive fine‐scale variation in extreme temperatures

Most multicellular terrestrial organisms experience climate at scales of millimetres to metres, yet most species‐climate associations are analysed at resolutions of kilometres or more. Because individuals experience heterogeneous microclimates in the landscape, species sometimes survive where the average background climate appears unsuitable, and equally may be eliminated from sites within apparently suitable grid cells where microclimatic extremes are intolerable. Local vegetation structure and topography can be important determinants of fine‐resolution microclimate, but a literature search revealed that the vast majority of bioclimate studies do not include fine‐scale habitat information, let alone a representation of how habitat affects microclimate. In this paper, we show that habitat type (grassland, heathland, deciduous woodland) is a major modifier of the temperature extremes experienced by organisms. We recorded differences among these habitats of more than 5°C in monthly temperature maxima and minima, and of 10°C in thermal range, on a par with the level of warming expected for extreme future climate change scenarios. Comparable differences were found in relation to variation in local topography (slope and aspect). Hence, we argue that the microclimatic effects of habitat and topography must be included in studies if we are to obtain sufficiently detailed projections of the ecological impacts of climate change to develop detailed adaptation strategies for the conservation of biodiversity.     

Detecting complex relations among vegetation,soil and geomorphology. An in-depth method applied to a case study in the Apennines (Italy)

Physical environment is the ruling factor of vegetation patterns in mountain areas, where vegetation mosaics are determined by a complex interplay among topography, geomorphology and soil. A deep analysis of such interplay is pivotal in order to build vegetation anamnesis and make sound projections. Instead, even recent cartographic models are still linked to standard statistical methods which are not on top of an efficient uncovering of knotty associations among these kinds of data. To this aim, in this study we propose a novel approach for: (a) assessing the associations among vegetation, soil, topography and geomorphology; (b) measuring the frequency and strength of these associations; (c) define in a rigorous way land units based on vegetation–soil–geomorphology associations; (d) advance hypotheses on the causes and prospects of the existing spatial pattern. In order to test the strength of the proposed methodology we applied it to a case study in the above-tree-line glacial cirque of Mount Prado (Northern Apennines, N Italy). In this area, the vegetation mosaic is still strongly conditioned by physical features but in a lower measure with respect to the higher alpine sites. We have been able to detect and weight 168 kinds of associations among vegetation, soil and geomorphological types, 1092 kinds of associations among vegetation and topographic variables and 12 land units with inner dominance of a particular association. The analysis of associations between vegetation types, soils, topography and landforms produced considerable insights into the ecology of the occurring plant communities. This proposed analytic methodology can be extended to other regions (e.g. mountain and alpine areas) and can also be considered a tool for interpreting present landscape heterogeneity also in a historical perspective.     

Effects of fire,topography and year-to-year climatic variation on species composition in tallgrass prairie

Native unploughed tallgrass prairie from Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA is described with respect to plant species compositional changes over a five year period in response to fire and topography. The principal gradient of variation in the vegetation is related to time since burning. Species show an individualistic response in terms of relative abundance to this gradient. Both the percentage of and cover of C₄ species and all grasses decrease as the prairie remains unburnt. Forb and woody plant species numbers and abundance increase along this gradient. A secondary gradient of variation reflects topography (i.e. upland versus lowland soils). Upland soils support a higher species richness and diversity. Upland and lowland plant assemblages are distinct except on annually burnt prairie. The interaction between burning regime, topography and year-to-year climatic variation affects the relative abundance of the plant species differentially. The most dominant species overall, Andropogon gerardii, was affected only by year-to-year variation (i.e. climate). Its position at the top of the species abundance hierarchy was unaffected by burning regime or soil type. The other dominant species showed a suite of varying responses to these factors.Deceased May, 1986.     

Microclimate variability in alpine ecosystems as stepping stones for non‐native plant establishment above their current elevational limit

Alpine environments are currently relatively free from non‐native plant species, although their presence and abundance have recently been on the rise. It is however still unclear whether the observed low invasion levels in these areas are due to an inherent resistance of the alpine zone to invasions or whether an exponential increase in invasion is just a matter of time. Using a seed‐addition experiment on north‐ and south‐facing slopes (cf. microclimatic gradient) on two mountains in subarctic Sweden, we tested the establishment of six non‐native species at an elevation above their current distribution limits and under experimentally enhanced anthropogenic pressures (disturbance, added nutrients and increased propagule pressure). We found a large microclimatic variability in cumulative growing degree days (GDD) (range = 500.77°C, SD = 120.70°C) due to both physiographic (e.g. aspect) and biophysical (e.g. vegetation cover) features, the latter being altered by the experimental disturbance. Non‐native species establishment and biomass production were positively correlated with GDD along the studied microclimatic gradient. However, even though establishment on the north‐facing slopes caught up with that on the south‐facing slopes throughout the growing season, biomass production was limited on the north‐facing slopes due to a shorter growing season. On top of this microclimatic effect, all experimentally imposed anthropogenic factors enhanced non‐native species success. The observed microclimatic effect indicates a potential for non‐native species to use warm microsites as stepping stones for their establishment towards the cold end of the gradient. Combined with anthropogenic pressures this result suggests an increasing risk for plant invasion in cold ecosystems, as such stepping stones in alpine ecosystems are likely to be more common in a future that will combine a warming climate with persistent anthropogenic pressures.     

Vegetation and microclimatic edge effects in two mixed-mesophytic forest fragments

Forest edges are known to consist of microenvironments that may provide habitat for a different suite of species than forest interiors. Several abiotic attributes of the microenvironment may contribute to this change across the edge to center gradient (e.g., light, air temperature, soil moisture, humidity). Biotic components, such as seed dispersal, may also give rise to changes in species composition from forest edge to interior. We predicted that abiotic and biotic measures would correlate with distance from forest edge and would differ among aspects. To test these predictions, we measured abiotic and biotic variables on twelve 175 m transects in each of two 24 ha forest fragments in east-central Illinois that have remained in continuous isolation for upwards of 100 years. Both univariate and multivariate techniques were used to best describe the complex relationships among abiotic factors and between abiotic and biotic factors. Results indicate that microclimatic variables differ in the degree to and distance over which they show an edge effect. Relative humidity shows the widest edge, while light and soil moisture have the steepest gradients. Aspect influences are evidenced by the existence of more pronounced edge effects on south and west edges, except when these edges are protected by adjacent habitat. Edges bordered by agricultural fields have more extreme changes in microclimate than those bordered by trees. According to PCA results, species richness correlates well with microclimatic variation, especially light and soil moisture; however, in many cases species richness had a different depth of edge influence than either of these variables. The herbaceous plant community is heavily dominated by three species. Distributions of individual species as well as changes in plant community composition, estimated with a similarity index, indicate that competition may be influencing the response of the vegetation to the edge to interior gradient. This study indicates that edge effects must be considered when the size and potential buffering habitat of forest preserves are planned.     

云雾山自然保护区环境因素对土壤水分空间分布的影响

选取黄土高原云雾山自然保护区天然草地,研究分析了地形因素、植被类型、降雨和封育措施对土壤水分的影响,研究结果表明:在0～100 cm土壤,单点季节平均土壤含水量的空间变化主要受坡向、坡位、群落类型和封育措施的影响;在深层土壤100～300cm,相对海拔、坡位、坡向、群落类型和封育措施在控制土壤水分的再分布中具有重要作用.不同的环境因素对土壤水分空间分布影响的季节变化存在明显差异,坡度、相对海拔、坡位与土壤湿度的关系依赖于前期降雨量,土壤湿度和坡度、海拔、坡位和封育措施的相关性一般随前期降雨的增加而增大.群落类型对土壤湿度的影响与群落盖度和蒸腾速率有关,在植被盖度差异较大的5月份和蒸腾速率差异较大的7月份影响显著.坡向对土壤湿度的影响依赖于太阳辐射的变化,在太阳辐射较强烈的7月份差异显著.由于长期自然封育,草地覆盖度不断增加,其蓄水保水能力增强,对土壤水分的调节能力得到提高,从而能在一定程度上改善土壤水分条件.     

植被指数的地形效应研究进展

植被指数是定性、定量评估绿色植被的关键指标,已经广泛应用于地表植被的监测.森林多分布在地形复杂山区,利用植被指数进行森林植被信息反演时地形对其影响较大.本文从几何光学模型原理分析了冠层反射率的地形效应,分析比较完全比值型植被指数(简单比值植被指数SR、归一化植被指数NDVI和湿度调整植被指数MAVI)、非完全比值型植被指数(增强型植被指数EVI和土壤调整植被指数SAVI)、非比值型植被指数(减化比值植被指数RSR、修正归一化植被指数MNDVI和绿度植被指数GVI),以及地形调节植被指数TAVI对地形的响应,试图为复杂地形山区选取植被指数提供参考.最后分析了植被指数地形效应研究的不足并对未来发展进行展望.     

Dynamics of understory vegetation in an old-growth boreal coniferous forest, 1988–1993

Abstract. Understorey vegetation changes in a South Norwegian old-growth coniferous forest were studied between 1988 and 1993 in 200 1-m² vegetation plots. Our aims were to quantify the amount of between-year compositional change, and to elaborate the environmental basis for long-term vegetation change, including the previously identified gradient structure with a major gradient related to topography (and soil nutrient status and soil depth) and a minor gradient reflecting paludification and canopy coverage. Species richness (yearly mean and cumulative species number) and change in species richness differed between vascular plants and cryptogams, and between forest types. The number of vascular plant species decreased in pine forest in dry years; bryophyte species number increased in spruce forest. Statistically significant vegetation change, as tested by constrained ordination (CCA) with time as the constraining variable, is demonstrated for most one-year periods and for the five-year period in most forest types. Vegetation change along identified gradients, measured as plot displacement along DCA ordination axes, also occurred. The magnitude of year-to-year vegetation change was related neither to forest type nor to one-year period; different responses to climatic and environmental change were observed in each forest type. The largest average displacement observed, from medium-rich spruce forest towards poor spruce forest, was interpreted as a long-term trend. Humus-layer pH decreased by ca. 0.25 units from 1988 to 1993, most strongly in medium-rich spruce forest where exchangeable Ca decreased and Al and Mn increased strongly. Our study supports the hypothesis that vascular plants show a long-term and broad-scale response to soil acidification. Change in bryophyte composition is linked to some very long growing-seasons. Detailed analysis of short-term vegetation dynamics enhances the interpretation of long-term changes and stresses the complementarity of univariate and multivariate methods in the analysis of vegetation change.     

Effects of topographic and edaphic conditions on alpine plant species distribution along a slope gradient on Mount Norikura,central Japan

This study examined the effects of topographic and edaphic conditions on alpine plant species distribution along a slope gradient on Mt. Norikura (3026 m a.s.l.), central Japan. Topographic and edaphic factors investigated at 40 plots were: slope inclination, ground surface texture, soil water content and soil inorganic nitrogen concentration (NO₃-N, NH₄-N). The topographic and edaphic factors changed with slope positions: slope inclination was steeper, soil texture was coarser, and soil water and inorganic nitrogen concentration decreased with increasing slope position. Five vegetation types were located along the slope gradient and related to two factor-groups: (1) changes in soil water, NH₄-N, slope inclination along the slope gradient, and (2) ground surface texture. A tall herbaceous plant community developed at the low slope position, near tarns, with fine soil surface texture, high soil water and NH₄-N, while Dicentra peregrina dominated on an unstable rubble slope near the ridge top. The distribution of each species was predictable from the two factor-groups. Although the five vegetation types were related to the two factor-groups, responses to the two factor-groups differed among species, even within the same vegetation type. Therefore, this study showed that the topography of the terrain largely regulated alpine plant distribution by affecting edaphic conditions, and that global warming may alter species composition by changing edaphic conditions.     

皇甫川流域柠条林地水分动态模拟——坡度、坡向、植被密度与土壤水分的关系

在皇甫川流域,随着林草覆盖度的增加,植被与水的矛盾日益突出,其中一个重要的问题就是植被密度与土壤水分之间的矛盾。土壤水分的降低影响了植被的生长,甚至导致了部分植被的死亡,因此对土壤水分与植被密度之间的关系进行研究非常重要,有助于合理造林密度的确定。在已有研究及实验观测的基础上,建立了柠条(Caragana intermedia)林地土壤水分动态模拟模型,模型考虑了主要的土壤、植物过程,包括土壤性状、降雨入渗、植物蒸腾、地表蒸发等;模拟了从1971至2000年,30年里各种立地条件(不同盖度、坡向和坡度)下的柠条林地土壤水分、蒸腾和蒸发等的日动态过程。通过比较不同立地条件下的土壤水分动态,研究了皇甫川流域典型柠条林地土壤水分与植被盖度、坡向和坡度之间的关系,并得出了它们之间的关系式。由得到的平地上柠条的适宜密度,同时结合上述关系式,得出了不同坡度、坡向的适宜密度。坡度小于10°时,适宜造林密度对坡度反应敏感,在10°~30°时,适宜盖度对坡度反应不敏感。对于小于10°的坡地,植被建设时要特别注意设计合理的植被密度。