Remnant habitats for grassland species in an abandoned Swedish agricultural landscape

Questions: Which factors influence the persistence of vascular grassland plants in long‐abandoned (at least 50 yr) arable fields and meadows? What might be the implications of current levels of species richness on abandoned arable fields and meadows for future restoration? Location: Forested highlands of Kilsbergen, south central Sweden. Methods: The abundance of all vascular plant species was investigated in three habitat types: former arable fields, hay meadows and outlands (pastures) at 27 farms, abandoned for either approximately 50 yr or 90 yr. Time since abandonment, tree cover, soil depth, degree of soil podsol development, size of the infield area and two measures of connectivity were used as predictors for species richness and species composition. Results: Former outland had denser tree cover, fewer species and fewer grassland species than former arable fields and hay meadows, irrespective of time since abandonment. Former hay meadows and arable fields with a longer time since abandonment were less rich in species, more wooded and had greater podsolization than meadows and fields abandoned at a later stage. Species richness was higher in hay meadows and arable fields at farms with larger infield area and deeper soils compared with farms with smaller infield area and shallower soils. The greatest richness of species and most open habitat were former arable fields at larger farms abandoned 50 yr before the study. Former arable fields had the highest number of grassland species. Conclusion: After 50 yr of abandonment, former arable fields were the most important remnant habitats for grassland species and may be a more promising target for restoration than formerly managed grasslands.     

黄土高原北部紫花苜蓿草地退化过程与植物多样性研究

以陕西省神木县六道沟小流域为研究区域,探讨了黄土高原北部紫花苜蓿人工草地退化过程中植物多样性的变化.结果表明,在黄土高原北部森林草原气候区,紫花苜蓿人工草地的退化演替过程可以划分为3个阶段:紫花苜蓿草地阶段(1～6年)、人工草地向天然草地演替的过渡阶段(6～10年)与长芒草次生天然草地阶段(10年以上).在1～30年的演替过程中,调查样方内共出现高等植物32种,分属于13科28属,其中90%以上出现在前6年.植被演替过程中累积出现的植物科属种数的动态变化可以用对数函数进行较好地描述.在群落演替过程中,物种丰富度指数、多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数的变化趋势基本一致,在演替前期(第1个阶段)增加较快,在第2个阶段(过渡阶段)达到最高,然后有所降低并渐趋稳定.种植紫花苜蓿可显著地加快植被的自然演替进程,这与人工草地水分消耗强烈加速了土壤的旱化过程密切相关.发展人工草地是黄土高原北部加速天然植被恢复与发展畜牧业、增加农民收入的有机结合点,是西部生态环境建设中生态效益与经济效益兼顾的良好范式.     

不同种植年代油松林植物多样性及土壤养分变化

通过样地调查,以空间代替时间的方法,对黄土高原马栏林区不同恢复阶段油松人工林群落物种多样性和土壤养分的变化进行了研究。结果表明:马栏林区油松人工林物种丰富度、多样性和均匀度都在波动中随着恢复年限的增加逐渐增加,物种丰富度在种植30年左右的油松林内达到最大,物种均匀度指数和优势度指数在种植20年左右的油松林内达到最大;人工种植油松林在很大程度上改变了群落面貌,物种组成和群落结构均与撂荒地有较大不同,撂荒地与油松林群落物种组成相似性较小,种植22年与28年的油松林Sorensen指数最大。油松人工林种植20年后物种组成已经基本稳定,在恢复后期物种组成变化不大;种植油松对恢复土壤肥力有一定的帮助,种植28年油松林土壤的有机质、全氮和碱解氮含量都较其它种植年代高,随着恢复年限的增加,油松人工林腐殖质不断增厚,土壤的pH值也有所增加,土壤越来越偏碱性。     

黄土高原自然植被演替过程中的植物特征与土壤元素动态

在3～149年的时间尺度上,对黄土高原植被次生演替过程中植物特征和土壤养分元素动态进行了研究.结果表明:1) 随着演替时间尺度的延伸,土壤全C、全N含量呈增加趋势,而土壤全K、全Na和土壤pH值呈下降趋势,土壤全P变化趋势不明显;此外,表层(0～10 cm)土壤CaO 含量在演替系列上呈下降趋势,深层(20～30 cm,40～50 cm)则呈增加趋势.演替过程对几种土壤化学元素含量影响的程度随着土壤深度的增加而减弱.2)植物群落物种丰富度在演替的中间阶段最高.3) 在演替的早期阶段,植物群落优势种往往具有稳定的土壤种子库、CR-生活对策和S-繁殖对策,在贫瘠的土壤上具有较强的竞争能力,且具有较强的水平扩展能力和克隆繁殖能力,C-生活对策、在土壤全N含量较高的生境中具有较强竞争能力的多年生植物,在演替中后期占据群落的优势地位.此外,在所涉及的植物特征中,多年生生活史,C-、CR-、SC-、SR-、S-生活对策,以及R-、W-、Bs-、VBs- 和V-繁殖对策等特征在非优势物种中出现的频率较高.4) C-、 SC-生活对策, 克隆能力, 多年生生活史, 水平扩展能力, 种子的动物传播方式,秋季开花,荚果、坚果等特征出现的比例在一定程度上与土壤全C、全N 和全K含量正相关; 而 S-、SR-、R-、CR-生活对策,一、二年生生活史, 种子繁殖, S-繁殖对策,以及胞果、蒴果等特征的比例与土壤全Na、CaO含量和土壤pH正相关.5)在演替过程中出现的植物均属草本植物生活型,因此,草原可能是黄土高原上受制于大尺度环境条件(显域生境)下的优势植被类型(特别是降雨量不超过550 mm的地区).     

黄土高原自然植被演替过程中的植物特征与土壤元素动态

在 3～ 14 9年的时间尺度上 ,对黄土高原植被次生演替过程中植物特征和土壤养分元素动态进行了研究。结果表明 :1)随着演替时间尺度的延伸 ,土壤全C、全N含量呈增加趋势 ,而土壤全K、全Na和土壤pH值呈下降趋势 ,土壤全P变化趋势不明显 ;此外 ,表层 (0～ 10cm)土壤CaO含量在演替系列上呈下降趋势 ,深层 (2 0～ 30cm ,4 0～5 0cm)则呈增加趋势。演替过程对几种土壤化学元素含量影响的程度随着土壤深度的增加而减弱。 2 )植物群落物种丰富度在演替的中间阶段最高。 3)在演替的早期阶段 ,植物群落优势种往往具有稳定的土壤种子库、CR_生活对策和S_繁殖对策 ,在贫瘠的土壤上具有较强的竞争能力 ,且具有较强的水平扩展能力和克隆繁殖能力 ,C_生活对策、在土壤全N含量较高的生境中具有较强竞争能力的多年生植物 ,在演替中后期占据群落的优势地位。此外 ,在所涉及的植物特征中 ,多年生生活史 ,C_、CR_、SC_、SR_、S_生活对策 ,以及R_、W_、Bs_、VBs_和V_繁殖对策等特征在非优势物种中出现的频率较高。 4 )C_、SC_生活对策 ,克隆能力 ,多年生生活史 ,水平扩展能力 ,种子的动物传播方式 ,秋季开花 ,荚果、坚果等特征出现的比例在一定程度上与土壤全C、全N和全K含量正相关 ;而S_、SR_、R_、CR_生活对策 ,一、二年生     

晋西吕梁山严村流域撂荒地植物群落替中的物种多样性变化

用ＤＣＡ排序研究了黄土丘陵区撂荒地上植物群落演替的趋势和方向,用６种多样性指数分析了物种丰富度、均匀度和综合多样性在演替过程中的变化。随着演替的进展,物种丰富性显著增高,均匀性逐渐降低,综合多样性逐渐升高。     

Response of epilithic diatom assemblages to water pollution in rivers in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, Japan

1. During the spring of 1992, fifty-two quantitative diatom samples were collected from twenty-eight rivers located in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, Japan, to study the response of the diatom assemblages to water pollution (assessed using physical and chemical data determined monthly from April 1987 to March 1992). 2. Species composition was analysed by means of biotic indices (Pantle and Buck's saprobic index) and multivariate analyses [two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) for classification and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) for ordination]. Species-abundance relationships were analysed using diversity indices (species richness, Shannon's diversity index and Pielou's evenness index) and rank-abundance patterns (rank-abundance curves). 3. CCA revealed two major gradients. The first corresponded to organic pollution and eutrophication. The second corresponded to variables related to geographical location. Four main station groups were determined by TWINSPAN. The location of the indicator species of groups 1–3 along the CCA axis 1 is consistent with their known pollution tolerance characteristics. Indicator species for group 4 had larger scores on CCA axis 2, and are representative of brackish water environments. 4. Species richness tended to be higher in the intermediate range of water pollution. Pielou's evenness index and Shannon's diversity index followed the same tendency but only weakly. 5. The rank-abundance patterns of diatom assemblages were more or less constant in all stations. The curves were very similar in shape, differing only in length and gradient (directly related to species richness and evenness, respectively). 6. The results of this study indicate that the response of diatom assemblages to environmental change can be observed in species compositional variation. Multivariate analyses and pollution indices revealed this response and are to be preferred to species diversity measures.     

Can the restoration of natural vegetation be accelerated on the Chinese Loess Plateau? A study of the response of the leaf carbon isotope ratio of dominant species to changing soil carbon and nitrogen levels

For the heavily degraded ecosystem on the Chinese Loess Plateau, it would be of great significance if vegetation restoration could be accelerated anthropogenically. However, one major concern is that if the late successional species were planted or sown in degraded habitats, would they still be competitive in terms of some critical plant traits associated with specific habitats? Water use efficiency (WUE) is a major plant trait shaping the pattern of species turnover in vegetation secondary succession on the Loess Plateau. We hypothesized that if late successional stage plants could still hold a competitive advantage in terms of WUE, the prospects for an acceleration of succession by sowing these species in newly abandoned fields would be good. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the leaf C isotope ratio (δ¹³C) value (a surrogate of WUE) of dominant species from different successional stages at given soil C and N levels. Results indicated that leaf δ¹³C of the two dominant species that co-dominated in the second and third stages were significantly more positive than that of the dominant species from the first stage regardless of changing soil C and N. Yet the dominant species from the climax stage is a C₄ grass assumed to have the highest WUE. In addition, increasing soil nutrition had no effects on leaf δ¹³C of two dominant species in the late successional stage, indicating that dominant species from the late successional stages could still have a competitive advantage in terms of WUE in soil C- and N-poor habitats. Therefore, from the perspective of plant WUE, there are great opportunities for ecosystem restoration by sowing both dominant species and other species that co-occur in late successional stages in newly abandoned fields, for the purpose of enhancing species diversity and optimising species composition.     

Richness and composition of herbaceous species in restored shrubland and grassland ecosystems in the northern Loess Plateau of China

Restored grasslands and shrublands are integral parts of the semi-natural landscape and are of major importance for biodiversity in the northern Loess Plateau. Determining the underlying factors that control the richness and composition of herbaceous species in restored grasslands and shrublands is urgently needed. Thus, the specific objective of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of soil, plant, and topographic explanatory variables affecting the richness and composition of herbaceous species in restored shrubland and grassland ecosystems in a typical watershed within the northern Loess Plateau. In this study, 27 restored grassland sites and 16 restored shrubland sites were sampled during September 2009. Using variation partitioning (partial canonical correspondence analysis), we determined the individual and shared effects of these three sets of explanatory variables on herbaceous biodiversity in the two restored habitats. Most of the explained variation in plant diversity was related to the pure effect of soil, plant, and topographic variables. Restored shrublands had significantly more species than grasslands, and abandoned dam farmlands had significantly more species than other grassland sites. Moreover, botanical diversity responded differently to the explanatory variables in different plant communities. The pure effects of soil properties, soil moisture in particular, accounted for the largest fractions of explained variation in species diversity in restored grasslands. Both plant and topographic variables had balancing pure effects on species diversity in restored shrublands, in particular the shrub density and slope angle. We conclude that the maintenance of a moderate density of shrubs (less than 3600 shrubs per ha), construction of check-dams, and grazing at a low stocking rate, taking conditions of soil and topographic site into account, may help to conserve biodiversity in the northern Loess Plateau.     

Early responses of vegetation and soil organic carbon to waterlogging and winter wildfire on abandoned red paddy soils

为了探明积水和冬季火烧对弃耕红壤稻田地表植被和土壤有机碳的影响, 该实验设置了对照(无人为干扰)、积水、冬季火烧和积水-冬季火烧4个不同处理, 采用样方法对样地植物的高度、密度、盖度及物种组成进行了调查。地上部分生物量采用收获法进行测定, 根系采用土柱法获取, 弃耕前后土壤有机碳含量的测定采用K₂Cr₂O₇外加热法。结果表明: 1)积水和冬季火烧对红壤稻田弃耕早期物种组成、丰富度、均匀度及多样性具有重要的影响。双穗雀稗(Paspalum paspaloides)和水竹叶(Murdannia triquetra)是积水条件下的优势种, 而柔枝莠竹(Microstegium vimineum)是冬季火烧条件下的优势种, 大狼杷草(Bidens frondosa)是积水和冬季火烧条件下的共优种。2)分布在0-5 cm表层土壤中的根系占0-20 cm深度土壤中根系的66.50%-80.34%。样地在积水条件下, 2011-2013年0-20 cm深度的土壤根系生物量分别高出对照样地的49.84%、73.34%和28.94%。3)冬季火烧可以提高样地的物种多样性和增加地上部分生物量, 2011-2013年冬季火烧样地分别高出对照样地的25.74%、64.30%和50.24%。4)与稻田弃耕前土壤有机碳含量逐渐上升趋势相反, 稻田弃耕6年后, 对照、积水、冬季火烧和积水-冬季火烧样地中土壤有机碳含量分别降低11.16%、18.99%、9.17%和19.12%, 并且在积水条件下土壤有机碳含量降低更明显(p < 0.05)。研究结果表明, 红壤稻田弃耕后地表植被物种组成、地上和地下生物量、土壤有机碳含量与积水和冬季火烧关系密切(p < 0.05)。     

陕西子午岭植物群落演替过程中物种多样性变化与环境解释

采用空间代替时间的方法研究了黄土高原子午岭植物群落自然演替过程中不同层α物种多样性的变化规律,并通过CCA分析了物种多样性与环境间的关系。结果表明:(1)随演替的进展,草本层物种丰富度、均匀度及物种多样性均逐渐降低(P0.05);灌木层物种的丰富度与物种多样性均呈现相似的"J"形变化趋势,而均匀度(虎榛子(Ostryopsis davidiana)群落除外)差异不显著(P0.05);乔木层物种丰富度、均匀度以及物种多样性差异均不显著(P0.05);群落总体物种丰富度随演替进展呈现明显的单峰模型,与中期物种丰富度假说一致。(2)林冠郁闭度是影响草本层和灌木层物种组成的主要环境因子(P0.01),其次为土壤养分和坡位;而坡位对乔木层物种组成的影响极显著(P0.01),这可能与乔木树种的更新差异有关。(3)群落演替是物种扩散和环境筛综合作用的过程,物种对演替过程中变化光照资源的响应差异可能是该区不同层物种多样性变化的主要原因。     

宁夏黄土丘陵区不同生态恢复生境地表甲虫多样性

为了解宁夏黄土丘陵区不同生境地表甲虫群落多样性变化规律及与环境因子的关系, 并探讨不同生态恢复措施对维持地表甲虫群落多样性的影响, 2013年7-8月, 作者利用陷阱法调查了该区6种生境内的地表甲虫群落多样性。结果表明: 灌草混交林地、乔灌混交林地、生态薪炭林地中地表甲虫物种丰富度和个体数量均较高, 天然封育草地、生态经济林地和水平农田中物种丰富度较低, 生态经济林地和水平农田中甲虫个体数量显著高于天然封育草地。不同生境间, 灌草混交林地、乔灌混交林地与生态薪炭林地之间、生态经济林地与水平农田之间甲虫群落组成相似性较高。多元回归分析表明, 草本层生物量、灌木层盖度及土壤含水量是影响甲虫物种丰富度的决定因素, 林冠层盖度和枯落物厚度是决定地表甲虫个体数量的重要因素。CCA分析表明, 枯落物盖度、枯落物厚度、林冠层盖度及草本层盖度是影响地表甲虫群落组成的重要环境因子。研究表明, 灌草混交林地为地表甲虫群落多样性维持较好的生境类型, 是宁夏黄土丘陵区典型生态恢复的最优模式。     

Feral horses dung piles as potential invasion windows for alien plant species in natural grasslands

Small scale disturbances could act as patches that provide sites for the colonization of competitively inferior species, promoting the establishment of non-native species in some cases. We analyzed the vegetation associated with feral horse dung piles in montane pampas grasslands in Mid-East Argentina and described the changes following their abandonment, evaluating whether dung piles act as invasion windows, allowing the entrance of alien plant species. We estimated the portion of the study area directly covered by horse manure and dung height was used to estimate the time elapsed after the abandonment of each pile. Vegetation replacement on dung piles of different ages was assessed and compared with grassland controls using discriminant analysis. We used regression analysis to look for changes in vegetation cover, species richness, species diversity and evenness in response to height (age) of the dung piles, and principal component analyses (PCA) to identify groups of plants associated with different successional stages. We compared cover of alien plant species on dung piles with grassland controls using one-way ANOVA. On average, 2.5% of the study area was covered by horse dung. Total vegetation cover, species richness, diversity and evenness increased after the piles were abandoned. Characteristic plant groups were associated with initial, middle and last phases of the studied succession. Vegetation on the dung piles significantly differed from that in grassland controls and two species were consistently associated with dung piles: the invasive Red Star Thistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, and a native grazing-intolerant grass, Nassella clarazii. Non-native species cover was also higher in dung piles than in control plots. Dung piles cover a significant portion of grassland area in our study site, produce significant changes in the vegetation and are associated with some invasive alien plants that could eventually colonize more pristine areas in the vicinity. On the other hand, they might represent refuges for palatable species, since horses seem to avoid them for grazing.     

Patterns of species diversity and soil nutrients along a chronosequence of vegetation recovery in Hainan Island, South China

Understanding the pattern of species diversity and soil factors can enhance our knowledge of the mechanism of vegetation recovery, however, there is still a gap in the knowledge of succession rate and trend for species diversity in relation to soil nutrients during the vegetation recovery process. Patterns of species diversity and soil nutrients during the tropical vegetation recovery as well as the correlation between species diversity and soil nutrients were explored in Hainan Island, located in southern China. Plots assigned as grassland stage (GS), shrub stage (SS), secondary forest stage (SFS), and primary forest stage (PFS) were established using a chronosequence approach. Results showed that species richness and evenness increased from GS to PFS. Species dominance/diversity curves were fitted using the lognormal distribution model (r ² ?=?0.891?C0.972). Species richness for the herb layer was maximal at SFS, whereas species richness for both the shrub layer and tree layer reached their maximum at PFS. Species turnover and soil total phosphorus decreased, whereas organic matter and total nitrogen increased from GS to PFS. Organic matter and total nitrogen were both positively correlated with species richness and total coverage, and total phosphorus was positively correlated with species turnover. The results clearly demonstrate that diversity asymptotically increases and positively correlates with increasing soil fertility, and the total phosphorus value is predicted to be an important soil factor that affects successional rate during tropical vegetation recovery processes.     

Community assembly of Diptera following restoration of mined boreal bogs: taxonomic and functional diversity

Peat mining causes major degradation to bogs and natural regeneration of these sites is slow and often incomplete. Thus, restoration is an important tool for re-establishing natural ecosystem properties (although perhaps not the original species pool) in mined bogs. Because faunal recovery cannot be taken for granted following plant restoration, we assessed community assembly of higher flies (Diptera: Brachycera) in previously mined bogs 7 years after restoration. Species assemblages in restored sites were compared to those in nearby natural and abandoned mined sites. The three treatment types did not differ significantly in overall species composition, suggesting high resilience to disturbance. However, species richness and evenness were generally lower in abandoned sites than restored and natural sites, which had similar abundance distributions, indicating that restoration enhanced recovery of species diversity and community structure. Functional traits (trophic group, body size) provided a different insight into the status of restored sites. Trophic and small size-class (<5 mm) composition in restored sites were similar to those in abandoned sites. However, high species richness estimates indicated that predators and saprophages successfully colonized restored sites. Species assemblages were mostly affected by coverage of bare peat, Sphagnum mosses and ericaceous shrubs; trophic assemblages were affected by variables directly linked to feeding habits. Our results suggest that active restoration is needed for the renewal of high species and trophic diversity, although it is clear from environmental conditions and functional traits that the restored sites are not yet fully functioning peatlands 7 years after restoration.     

恢复方式和地形对晋西黄土区退耕林分物种多样性的影响

运用样带样方调查法,对比不同恢复方式和地形条件下退耕林分的物种多样性,以期为晋西黄土区植被恢复效果评价和经营管理提供参考.结果表明: 恢复方式对退耕林分物种多样性具有显著影响.自然恢复林物种数为刺槐人工林的 1.6倍,Shannon 指数大于刺槐人工林,Pielou 指数小于刺槐人工林.物种多样性受坡位影响显著,各指数均表现为沟底>沟坡>梁峁坡>梁峁顶;坡向对退耕林分物种多样性影响不显著,各指数均表现为阴坡>阳坡.物种多样性受地形和恢复方式综合作用影响显著,在自然恢复林阴坡沟底处最高,物种均匀度在刺槐人工林阴坡沟底处最高.从提高物种多样性角度,黄土区植被恢复在遵循适地适树原则的同时,应参照自然恢复林分,在不同地形部位采用不同的造林设计.     

Can the Study of Natural Vegetation Succession Assist in the Control of Soil Erosion on Abandoned Croplands on the Loess Plateau,China?

In the Loess Plateau, China, arable cultivation of slope lands is common and associated with serious soil erosion. Planting trees or grass may control erosion, but planted species may consume more soil water and can threaten long‐term ecosystem sustainability. Natural vegetation succession is an alternative ecological solution to restore degraded land, but there is a time cost, given that the establishment of natural vegetation, adequate to prevent soil erosion, is a longer process than planting. The aims of this study were to identify the environmental factors controlling the type of vegetation established on abandoned cropland and to identify candidate species that might be sown soon after abandonment to accelerate vegetation succession and establishment of natural vegetation to prevent soil erosion. A field survey of thirty‐three 2 × 2–m plots was carried out in July 2003, recording age since abandonment, vegetation cover, and frequency of species together with major environmental and soil variables. Data were analyzed using correspondence analysis, classification tree analysis, and species response curves. Four vegetation types were identified and the data analysis confirmed the importance of time since abandonment, total P, and soil water in controlling the type of vegetation established. Among the dominant species in the three late‐successional vegetation types, the most appropriate candidates for accelerating and directing vegetation succession were King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) and Lespedeza davurica (Leguminosae). These species possess combinations of the following characteristics: tolerance of low water and nutrient availability, fibrous root system and strong lateral vegetative spread, and a persistent seed bank.     

陕北“三北”防护林下草本群落特征及其与林分结构和土壤养分的关系

林下草本层是人工林生态系统的基础功能层,对维护人工林生态系统的健康、稳定和功能具有重要意义。了解陕北“三北”防护林建设对林下草本群落特征的影响,并解析林下草本群落发育与林分结构和土壤养分变化的响应关系,对合理评估防护林建设工作和指导未来生态建设具有重要价值。为此,调查了陕北典型风沙区和黄土区不同造林阶段防护林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性的变化,并分析其与林分结构和土壤养分的关系。结果表明：（1）风沙区不同造林阶段人工林下草本平均地上生物量（23.64 g/m2）显著低于黄土区（44.53 g/m2）。随造林年限增加,风沙区林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性逐渐升高,而黄土区林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性则逐渐降低。（2）风沙区人工林土壤有效氮和有机碳随造林年限的增加逐渐升高,而黄土区人工林下土壤有效氮和有机碳则无明显变化趋势。（3）风沙区早期林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性升高主要得益于土壤养分的提升。而黄土区早期林下草本生物量和物种多样性降低主要是人工林郁闭度增加所致。风沙区防护林的建设促进了林下草本的发育,而黄土区早期人工林下草本出现退化现象。建议对风沙区进行防护林建设,而黄土区以自然恢复为主。     

亚高山针叶林人工恢复过程中物种多样性变化

通过样方调查,以空间代替时间的方法,对亚高山人工针叶林恢复过程中,乔木、灌木和草本层物种多样性的变化进行了研究,探讨了不同恢复阶段各层物种的相关系数．结果表明,亚高山人工针叶林恢复过程中物种的丰富度、多样性和均匀性都在波动中逐渐增加,云杉人工林恢复过程中总体上是朝着有利于物种多样性恢复的方向发展．在人工林恢复序列中群落乔木物种的平均相关系数为41．88％。灌木为50．61％,草本为37．22％,说明在70年的人工林恢复过程中,灌木种类具有较高的连续性和稳定性;草本植物则随着人工林环境条件的改变而出现较大的消亡和更新,显示出较大的波动性．乔木层物种的稳定性和连续性介于灌木和草本植物之间．     

Scale-dependent effects of land use on plant species richness of mountain grassland in the European Alps

Traditionally managed mountain grasslands in the Alps are species‐rich ecosystems that developed during centuries of livestock grazing. However, changes in land use including fertilisation of well accessible pastures and gradual abandonment of remote sites are increasingly threatening this diversity. In five regions of the Swiss and French Alps we assessed the relationship between land use, soil resource availability, cover of the unpalatable species Veratrum album, species richness and vegetation composition of mountain grasslands across four spatial scales ranging from 1 to 1000 m². Mean species richness and the increase in the number of species with increasing area were lower in intensively grazed, fertilised pastures than in traditional pastures or in abandoned pastures. Species composition of abandoned pastures differed from that of the other management types. Plant species richness was influenced by different factors at different spatial scales. At the 1 m² scale, plant species richness was negatively related to soil nitrate and influenced by the cover of V. album, depending on land use: species richness and cover of V. album were negatively correlated in abandoned pastures, but positively correlated in fertilised grasslands. At the 1000 m² scale, a negative effect of fertilization on richness was evident. These results indicate that at small scales species richness in mountain grasslands is determined by competition for light, which should be more important if nutrient availability is high, and by positive and negative interactions with unpalatable plants. In contrast, species richness at the large scale appears to be mainly influenced by land use. This result emphasizes the importance of studying such inter‐relationships at multiple scales. Our study further suggests that the maintenance of the traditional land use scheme is crucial for the conservation of plant species richness of mountain pastures as both intensification and abandonment changed species composition and reduced plant species diversity.