Effects of grazing intensity in grasslands of the Espinal of central Chile

Question: How is grazing intensity associated with species and morpho‐functional traits (MFTs) composition, productivity and richness of annual dominated grasslands? Have native and exotic species similar associations to this gradient? Location: Anthropogenic grassland in the Espinal vegetation in the sub‐humid area of the mediterranean type climate region of Chile (35°58’ S, 72°17’ W). Methods: Data were obtained from a long‐term (eight years) experiment with six stocking rates (1 to 3.5 sheep/ha). Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and regression analysis were used to determinate the relationship between grazing intensity and biomass, richness, abundance and traits of the species. Results: The first DCA axis was related to grazing intensity and explained most of the floristic variation (69.3%); the abundance of some non‐native species, e.g. Vulpia megalura were highly correlated with this axis. In the DCA for MFTs the first axis explained 87% of the variance and was also related to grazing intensity; the abundance of small size plants and shallow roots increased with grazing intensity. The relative abundance of grasses and composites, but not of legumes, changed with stocking rate: as grazing intensity increased composites became the predominant species to the detriment of grasses. The above‐ground biomass measured in exclusion cages declined with increasing grazing pressure. The richness of exotic species was greater compared to native ones at low stocking rates, but they converge to similar values at higher stocking rates. However, the relative abundance of exotic species was greater than 75% in all stocking rates. Conclusions: Grazing intensification has large effects in the structure of grassland in central Chile. With grazing intensities greater than 1 sheep/ha species characteristics change; evolving in a few years (6–8) towards a similar community regardless of the stocking rate. The overgrazed community has more native than exotic species richness, possibly due to greater defence traits against herbivory of this group of species.     

干扰对植物群落物种组成及多样性的影响

在介绍了干扰的概念及其性质和干扰对物种多样性影响的有关假说基础上,以森林干扰为主要对象,探讨了干扰对植物群落物种组成的影响,并从干扰类型、干扰强度和干扰频率等几个方面阐述了干扰对植物群落物种多样性的影响;另外,还分析了重要的小尺度干扰——林隙在该方面的影响。分析总结出干扰对植物群落的影响差异主要与干扰特征、植物群落特征及植物的生物学特性和受干扰地点的资源条件有关。最后,总结分析了国内外在该方面研究存在的问题,并对今后研究提出一些建议,为相关工作提供参考。     

浙江省珍稀濒危植物物种多样性保护的关键区域

浙江省植物资源丰富,有野生维管植物215科1196属3283种,其中包含了我国特有属49个,浙江省特有植物约200余种,许多物种十分稀少,并受到严重威胁,亟待保护。但浙江省需优先保护的植物物种的分布并不是均匀的,有些地区的重要保护对象比较集中,对这些地区我们应该给予更多的保护。本文根据维管植物物种多样性、珍稀濒危植物的物种数量及个体数量特征、受威胁状况以及浙江省特有植物的分布情况,提出了浙江省珍稀濒危植物保护的7个关键区域：以西天目山为中心的浙西北山区,以古田山为中心的浙西山区,以九龙山为中心的浙西南山区,以凤阳山－百山祖为中心的浙南山区,以括苍山为中心的浙东山区,以天台山为中心的浙东丘陵,以普陀山为中心的舟山群岛。最后提出了浙江省植物物种多样性保护的几点建议。     

甘南亚高寒草甸稀有种对物种多样性和物种多度分布格局的贡献

稀有种不仅影响群落的物种多度分布格局, 同时也是α多样性的重要贡献者。本研究主要通过加性分配和Fortran软件的RAD程序包拟合的方法, 研究了甘南亚高寒草甸不同坡向物种多样性及多度分布格局的变化, 分析了物种多度分布格局及其α多样性的变化特征, 确定了稀有种在物种多度分布格局中的相对贡献。结果表明: (1)在南坡到北坡的变化中, 环境因子差异比较明显, 其中, 土壤全磷、有机碳、速效磷、碳氮比及含水量呈递增趋势; 土壤氮磷比和pH值呈递减趋势; 土壤全氮在西坡显著低于其他坡向, 而速效氮在所有坡向上差异不显著。(2)稀有种对群落物种多样性的影响在南-北坡向梯度上依次增大, 去除稀有种的影响在各坡向均高于去除非稀有种, 可见, 稀有种在甘南亚高寒草甸物种多样性中的相对贡献高于非稀有种。(3)各坡向的稀有种资源获取模式以随机分配占领模式(random fraction模型)为主, 而非稀有种则以生态位优先占领模式(geometric series模型)为主。由于稀有种有较大的扩散率, 在物种多样性较高的生态系统中, 物种之间的生态位重叠会更加明显, 从而抑制物种多样性的增加, 因此能达到维持原有物种多样性的目的。     

养分与水分添加对荒漠草地植物群落结构和物种多样性的影响

为进一步了解养分添加和水分添加对干旱区草地植物多样性的影响, 2009-2011年5月15日, 对准噶尔盆地荒漠草地进行养分和水分添加, 2009-2012年5月25日进行植被调查, 研究群落结构与植物多样性对养分N、P、K与水分(雨、雪)添加的响应, 得出以下结果: (1)添加肥、水后, 荒漠草地植物群落结构发生了变化, 物种数由肥、水添加前的17种减少到添加后的11种, 减少了35.3%, 禾草类植物数目增加, 十字花科植物数量下降; (2)通过裂区试验方差分析, 2009年和2010年, 养分主效应对物种丰富度、Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou均匀度指数的影响不显著, 水分主效应和肥水交互作用对以上4个植物多样性指数的影响也不显著; (3) 2012年, 养分主效应对物种丰富度影响显著(p < 0.05), 养分添加降低了荒漠草地物种丰富度, 而水分作用、肥水交互作用对物种丰富度的影响均不显著; 肥水交互作用对植物Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数的影响显著(p < 0.05), 而养分添加、水分添加对其影响亦不显著; (4)荒漠草地植物的Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou均匀度指数在年际间呈上升趋势。     

草地植物物种多样性测度方法及发展趋势

植物物种多样性是维持陆地生态系统多功能性和稳定性的关键要素之一.本文梳理了传统草地植物物种多样性的测度方法,结合无人机技术介绍了目前应用于草地植物物种多样性测度的新理念和新方法.传统的草地植物物种多样性测度方法依赖地面观测,需要投入大量的人力、物力且耗时,仅适合小范围的观测;卫星遥感方法受制于分辨率,难以直接对群落结构...     

Biophysical and human influences on plant species richness in grasslands: Comparing variegated landscapes in subtropical and temperate regions

A survey of grassy woodlands in the Queensland subtropics was conducted, recording herbaceous species richness at 212 sites on three properties (2756 ha). A range of habitats typical of cattle grazing enterprises was sampled and site variables included lithology, slope position, tree density, soil disturbance, soil enrichment and grazing. Results were compared with a previously published survey of temperate grasslands. Lithology, slope position and tree density had relatively minor effects on plant species richness, although in both surveys there was some evidence of lower species richness on the more fertile substrates. Soil disturbance and soil enrichment significantly reduced the richness of native species in both surveys, while exotic species were insensitive (subtropics) or increased (temperate) with disturbance. Rare native species were highly sensitive to disturbances, including grazing, in the temperate study. Although some trends were similar for rare species in the subtropics, the results were not significant and there were complex interactions between grazing, lithology and slope position. Grazing did not have a negative effect on native species richness, except in the closely grazed patches within pastures, and then only on the most intensively developed property. At the scale recorded (30 m²), the native pastures, roadsides and stock routes sampled in the subtropics appear to be among the most species‐rich grasslands ever reported, both nationally and globally. Native species richness was approximately 50% higher than the temperate survey figures across all the comparable habitats. While there are no clear reasons for this result, potential explanations are proposed.     

Variation of plant diversity components in different scales in relation to grazing and climatic conditions

Background: Understanding the role of livestock grazing on plant diversity can be improved by an accurate measurement of diversity at all hierarchical scales due to the changeability of diversity components in space.

Aims: We evaluated the effects of grazing on plant species diversity at different scales of all common and rare species in two regions that have different climatic conditions (arid vs. semi-arid).

Methods: In each region, we collected abundant data of plant species from a nested sampling design that consisted of local (80 plots) and regional (16 sites) scales. We partitioned total species diversity (γ) into within plots (α_l), among plots (β_l) and among sites (β₂) using the additive partitioning.

Results: Diversity among sites contributed the most to total diversity for all and rare plant species in both regions. In addition, α₁ and β₁ diversities in ungrazed areas were greater than those in grazed areas for all and common species in both climates.

Conclusion: Abandonment of grazing after 10 years resulted in significant regeneration of common species at the local scale, with no change in rare species. We conclude that low grazing intensity is likely to be an important tool for conservation of plant diversity in which all scales should be considered.     

Genetic diversity and structure of an endangered medicinal plant species (Pilocarpus microphyllus) in eastern Amazon: implications for conservation

Few studies have evaluated the genetic status of medicinal plants exposed to commercial harvesting. Here, we examine the genetic variability of Pilocarpus microphyllus, an endemic and threatened medicinal plant species from the eastern Amazon, across its largest remaining wild population. Popularly known as jaborandi, species of Pilocarpus genus are the unique known natural source of pilocarpine, an alkaloid used to treat glaucoma and xerostomia. However, Populations of P. microphyllus has experienced a severe decline in the last decades. Using RAD sequencing, we identified a total of 5,266 neutral and independent SNPs in 277 individuals collected from the Carajás National Forest (CNF). We quantified genetic diversity and gene flow patterns and estimated the minimum number of individuals necessary to establish a germplasm bank. Our results revealed high genetic diversity and four spatially distinct clusters of P. microphyllus with substantial admixture among them. Geographic distance and temperature dissimilarity were the factors that best explained the relatedness patterns among individuals. Additionally, our findings indicate that at least 40 matrices sampled randomly from each population would be required to conserve genetic diversity in the long term. In short, P. microphyllus showed high levels of genetic diversity and an effective population size (N_E) sufficient to reduce the likelihood of extinction due to inbreeding depression. Our results indicate that diversity has been maintained despite the continuous harvesting of raw leaf material in the area over recent decades. Finally, the results provide information essential for the design of a germplasm bank to protect the endangered medicinal plant species.

     

峨眉山世界遗产地植物多样性全球突出普遍价值及保护

该研究在申遗文本和大量文献资料的基础上,以峨眉山世界遗产地原生植物及植被群落为研究对象,从物种多样性、物种组成、植物区系、植被类型及垂直分布格局等方面,分析论证了峨眉山世界遗产地植物多样性的全球突出普遍价值,并简要概述了当前峨眉山世界遗产地植物受威胁状况以及在保护与发展中出现的问题。结果表明:(1)峨眉山世界遗产地目前拥有高等植物242科3 200种以上,特有植物、孑遗植物种类丰富。(2)与中国其他湿润性亚热带山地森林垂直带谱相比,峨眉山亚热带森林植被类型完整,常绿阔叶林东部类型在山地垂直带谱中占据显著地位,海拔上限最高,跨度最大,具有典型的亚热带常绿阔叶林东部亚区森林群落特点。(3)植物区系复杂,既有热带、亚热带和温带植物区系成份,又有中国—日本与中国—喜马拉雅植物区系分布。(4)受人为活动(旅游发展、基础设施建设等)和自然扰动(气候变暖、地质灾害等)影响,峨眉山世界遗产地植物多样性下降明显,珍稀濒危植物受威胁程度增加,典型群落面积退化,稳定性降低。建议在划定珍稀植物保护区,对植物栖息地进行专门保护的基础上,开展植物多样性、环境因子、人为活动动态监测,预见性地保护其突出普遍价值,实现世界遗产地的可持续发展。     

Effects of nonindigenous species on diversity and community functioning in the eastern Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea)

An increase of xenodiversity in plankton and benthos in the eastern Gulf of Finland was observed from 1998 to 2004. Nonindigenous species account for 4.8% of all species found and up to 96% of total biomass. Invasive benthic omnivores, the alien amphipods Gmelinoides fasciatus and Pontogammarus robustoides and the predaceous fish Perccottus glenii with their versatile diets strongly affect the community structure. Invasive sessile seston-feeders that directly (through grazing and water clearance) and indirectly (through recycling of nutrients) interact with other ecosystem components, are mainly represented by the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, which affect the structure of benthic and planktonic communities as well as benthic-pelagic coupling. The invasive predatory cladocerans Cercopagis pengoi and Evadne anonyx and larvae of D. polymorpha are only temporary components in the zooplankton, which is limiting their overall effect. Alien benthic bioturbators, the polychaetes Marenzelleria neglecta and the oligochaete Tubificoides pseudogaster account for a high proportion of total abundance and biomass but their effects on native species need further research.     

干扰对辽东山区次生林植物多样性的影响

依据林分距离居民区和一、二级道路的远近以及郁闭度与受害乔木株数百分比,将人为干扰和自然干扰各划分为低度干扰、中度干扰和高度干扰3个水平.在此基础上,调查分析了干扰对辽东山区次生林植物多样性的影响,初步探讨了人为干扰和自然干扰影响的差异.结果表明,在不考虑次生林类型的前提下,受中度水平人为干扰的次生林总体多样性高于其它两个水平,从低水平干扰到高水平干扰的Simpson 指数分别为0.95、0.96和0.92,Shannon-Wiener指数分别为3.60、3.77和3.36;乔木层多样性有随干扰水平提高而增加的趋势,灌木层和草本层的变化趋势与总体多样性相似;各次生林类型总体多样性随干扰水平的变化存在差异,且乔木层、灌木层和草本层的多样性变化在各次生林类型中未呈一致的趋势,其中灌木层和草本层受干扰影响较大;自然(雪/风)干扰发生近3年后,受到不同程度影响的桦木林总体多样性差异不大, Simpson 指数分别为0.91、0.91和0.92,Shannon-Wiener指数分别为2.30、2.93和2.89;随着干扰水平提高,乔木层和灌木层多样性呈增加趋势,草本层多样性则变化不大.     

Impact of grazing on the species richness of plant communities in Mediterranean temporary pools (western Morocco)

The impact of grazing on the vegetation of Moroccan temporary pools has been studied at 2 scales: regional (inter-pools) and local (intra-pools). Half of the 16 forest pools studied is located in a reserve and ungrazed. The other half, located within public forest, is grazed. Vegetation relevés coupled to water-depths measurements were carried out in each pool. The results showed a significant effect of grazing on both scales of analysis. This effect was found in the species composition of the vegetation, which differed between the 2 types of pools, and in the lower species richness and abundance of plant species in the grazed pools. These differences are interpreted as resulting from the selection by herbivores and the differential tolerance of species to disturbance. These impacts are likely to expose certain species to local extinction by reducing their populations.     

放牧强度和地形对内蒙古典型草原物种多度分布的影响

为了更好地理解放牧对草原生态系统物种多度分布格局的影响, 以及常见种和稀有种对维持群落多样性的作用, 以内蒙古典型草原为研究对象, 基于长期放牧控制实验平台(包括7个载畜率水平(0、1.5、3.0、4.5、6.0、7.5、9.0 sheep·hm^-2)和两种地形系统(平地和坡地)), 研究了群落内全部物种、常见种和稀有种的丰富度和多度对放牧强度的响应规律, 并选取对数正态模型、对数级数模型和幂分割模型, 对物种多度数据进行拟合。结果表明: 1)平地系统中, 物种丰富度和多度在低放牧强度下(1.5、3.0 sheep·hm^-2)增加, 而在中、高度放牧强度下(4.5-9.0 sheep·hm^-2)降低, 全部物种的多度分布在大多数放牧强度下符合幂分割模型, 在高放牧强度下也符合对数正态模型; 坡地系统中, 物种丰富度和多度随着放牧强度增加而显著降低, 全部物种的多度分布在各个放牧强度下, 均符合幂分割模型和对数正态模型。2)随着放牧强度增加, 常见种的多度响应趋势与全部物种的响应趋势一致, 其多度分布均符合幂分割模型和对数正态模型; 稀有种的丰富度响应趋势与全部物种的响应趋势一致, 其多度分布符合幂分割模型, 同时也部分符合对数正态和对数级数模型。总之, 适宜的载畜率有利于生物多样性和初级生产力的提高, 平地系统中物种多度的响应在一定程度上支持放牧优化假说; 而坡地系统中不同物种多度的响应差异说明: 确定最佳载畜率时, 还需要考虑地形因素的影响。此外, 模型的拟合结果表明: 生态位分化机制对内蒙古典型草原物种多度分布起着主要作用, 常见种和稀有种通过不同的响应方式共同维持着草原生态系统的物种多样性。     

Intensified grazing affects endemic plant and gastropod diversity in alpine grasslands of the Southern Carpathian mountains (Romania)

Alpine grasslands in the Southern Carpathian Mts, Romania, harbour an extraordinarily high diversity of plants and invertebrates, including Carpathic endemics. In the past decades, intensive sheep grazing has caused a dramatic decrease in biodiversity and even led to eroded soils at many places in the Carpathians. Because of limited food resources, sheep are increasingly forced to graze on steep slopes, which were formerly not grazed by livestock and are considered as local biodiversity hotspots. We examined species richness, abundance and number of endemic vascular plants and terrestrial gastropods on steep slopes that were either grazed by sheep or ungrazed by livestock in two areas of the Southern Carpathians. On calcareous soils in the Bucegi Mts, a total of 177 vascular plant and 19 gastropod species were recorded. Twelve plant species (6.8%) and three gastropod species (15.8%) were endemic to the Carpathians. Grazed sites had lower plant and gastropod species richness than ungrazed sites. Furthermore, grazed sites harboured fewer gastropod species endemic to the Carpathians than ungrazed sites. On acid soils in the Fagaras Mts, a total of 96 vascular plant and nine gastropod species were found. In this mountain area, however, grazed and ungrazed sites did not differ in species richness, abundance and number of endemic plant and gastropod species. Our findings confirm the high biodiversity of grasslands on steep slopes in the Southern Carpathian Mts and caution against increasing grazing pressure in these refuges for relic plants and gastropods as well as for other invertebrates.     

施肥和刈割对亚高山草甸物种多样性与生产力及其关系的影响

施肥和刈割分别对植物群落物种多样性和生产力有重要的影响。采用不同施肥水平和刈割频度, 研究了施肥和刈割对亚高山草甸植物群落物种多样性与生产力及其关系的影响。结果显示, 5年的施肥和刈割处理对群落地上生物量均有显著影响, 但对物种多样性影响不显著; 物种多样性与生产力之间的关系因施肥和刈割次数的不同而不同, 有负相关、二次函数关系和不相关等几种类型, 多数为不相关。此结果表明施肥和刈割并不总是一致性地影响群落物种多样性与生产力。因此, 不同施肥和刈割处理下的亚高山草甸植物群落生产力与物种多样性之间并没有确定的关系。     

Cattle grazing in CRP grasslands during the nesting season: effects on avian abundance and diversity

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a primary tool for restoring grassland in the United States, in part as wildlife habitat, which has benefited declining grassland bird populations. Among potential mid-contract management practices used to maintain early-successional CRP grasslands, cattle grazing had been prohibited and is currently disincentivized during the primary nesting season for birds (much of the growing season), despite the important role that large herbivores historically played in structuring grassland ecosystems. Conservative grazing of CRP grasslands could increase spatial heterogeneity in vegetation structure and plant diversity, potentially supporting higher densities of some grassland bird species and higher bird diversity. Our objective was to determine the effect of experimental cattle grazing on species-specific relative abundance and occupancy, species diversity, and community dissimilarity of grassland birds on CRP grasslands across the longitudinal extent of Kansas, USA (a 63.5-cm precipitation gradient) during the 2017–2019 avian breeding seasons. Fifty-three of 108 fields were grazed by cattle during the growing seasons of 2017 and 2018 and all fields were rested from grazing in 2019. For all analyses, we examined separate model sets for semiarid western versus more mesic eastern Kansas. Using data from line transect surveys, we modeled relative abundances of 5 songbird species: grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), dickcissel (Spiza americana), eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna), western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), and brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Grazing had delayed yet positive effects on abundances of grasshopper sparrow in western Kansas, and eastern meadowlark in eastern Kansas, but negative effects on dickcissel abundance in western Kansas and especially on burned fields in eastern Kansas. Somewhat counterintuitively, brown-headed cowbirds in western Kansas were more abundant on ungrazed versus grazed fields in the years after grazing began. In addition, we modeled multi-season occupancy of 3 gamebird species (ring-necked pheasant [Phasianus colcicus], northern bobwhite [Colinus virginianus], mourning dove [Zenaida macroura]) and Henslow's sparrow (Centronyx henslowii); grazing did not affect occupancy of these species. In eastern Kansas, species diversity was highest in grazed, unburned fields. In western Kansas, bird communities in grazed and ungrazed fields were dissimilar, as determined from multivariate analysis. Though regionally variable, conservative stocking of cattle on CRP grasslands during the nesting season as a mid-contract management tool might increase bird species diversity by restructuring habitat that accommodates a greater variety of species and decreasing abundances of species associated with taller, denser stands of vegetation.     

氮添加对内蒙古退化草地植物群落多样性和生物量的影响

人为干扰及气候变化导致内蒙古草地发生了大面积退化, 氮添加是促进退化草地生产力恢复的一项重要措施。该文基于2011年建立的氮肥添加实验平台, 以3个不同退化程度(中度退化、重度退化、极度退化)草地群落为研究对象, 设置对照、10、20、30、40和50 g·m ^-2·a ^-1 6种氮添加处理, 分析氮添加对退化草地恢复过程中群落多样性和生物量的影响。结果表明: (1)氮添加降低了中度、重度退化草地恢复进程中物种丰富度和多样性, 对极度退化草地恢复进程中物种丰富度和多样性无明显影响。(2)氮添加促进了3个不同退化程度草地恢复进程中群落地上生物量的增加。(3)氮添加显著增加了群落中禾草的地上生物量及其在群落地上生物量中所占的比例, 降低了杂类草在群落地上生物量中的比例, 但对杂类草地上生物量无显著影响。研究表明在利用施肥措施治理退化草地的过程中, 需要充分考虑草地退化程度以及由氮添加引起的群落多样性和生产力的改变对草地生态系统功能的影响。     

放牧对五台山高山、亚高山草甸牧草品质的影响

通过野外样地调查和室内分析,从牧草的适口性和营养成分两方面,研究了放牧对五台山高山、亚高山草甸牧草品质的影响。结果表明：放牧干扰草甸中适口性为喜食及以上的优质牧草种类为20种,喜食牧草在群落中的相对盖度最大,为45.40%;与之相比,极度退化草甸中优质牧草种类为13种,乐食牧草的相对盖度最大,为62.24%;喜食以上优质牧草的相对盖度最大值,出现在轻度退化草甸中,达到65.95%。同一适口性等级牧草,在不同退化等级草甸中,种类发生变化。从放牧干扰草甸到极度退化草甸,牧草中的粗蛋白和灰分含量呈增加趋势,而中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维含量呈下降趋势。放牧压力下,五台山高山、亚高山草甸的牧草品质并未下降,但放牧造成的草甸生产力降低,制约了资源的可持续利用和保护。