Short-term rather than long-term exclusion of grazing increases soil bacterial diversity in an Inner Mongolian steppe

In the Three Gorges Reservoir Region of China, periodic flooding has led to plant destruction, causing much ecological damage. Re-vegetation with submergence-tolerant species is a possible solution to this problem. At present, many submergence-tolerant species have been selected for such restoration efforts, but it is unclear why these species can survive complete submergence while other species cannot. In this study, we investigated the response of two species – submergence-tolerant Salix variegata Franch. and submergence-intolerant Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl. – to flooding. Plants were submerged to 2 m for 3, 9, 15, and 30 days, after which malondialdehyde (MDA) (a membrane injury product) and superoxide anion content, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, was measured. We found that (1) MDA levels increased in submerged C. camphora seedlings but remained constant in S. variegata; (2) superoxide anion content and SOD activity in the two species responded similarly to submergence; and (3) POD activity in S. variegata seedlings was much higher than in C. camphora. These results demonstrate that plant tolerance to submergence is related to membrane stability, and that POD activity is an important factor in this tolerance.     

Variations in the nitrogen saturation threshold of soil respiration in grassland ecosystems

Over the last century, anthropogenic activities have increased nitrogen (N) deposition considerably, which significantly affects ecosystem processes and has the potential to induce N saturation in the future. The continuous increase in N deposition may cause a non-linear response in soil respiration (Rs), an important component of carbon (C) cycling. However, little is known about N saturation threshold of soil respiration. In this study, we conducted coordinated experiments in four grassland types across northern China with four N addition levels to explore patterns in the Rs saturation threshold. Our results showed that an Rs saturation threshold generally exists in grassland ecosystems in response to N addition gradients. The N saturation threshold of Rs occurred at an average rate of 50 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, but varied widely with grassland type; the N saturation threshold occurred at rates of 100, 50, 50, and 25 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the alpine meadow, meadow steppe, typical steppe, and desert steppe, respectively. Autotrophic respiration (Ra) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) responded to N addition gradients differently. Ra increased initially and became saturated at a rate of 50 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and declined thereafter. In contrast, Rh decreased monotonically after N addition. Structural equation models further confirmed that the effects of N addition gradients on Rs were primarily determined by the non-linear response of belowground biomass. Interestingly, the compiled global dataset showed that the N saturation threshold of Rs increased with precipitation and soil moisture. These findings indicate that the stimulating effect of N deposition on Rs and Ra might diminish with increasing N deposition in the future, especially in dry grassland ecosystems.

     

降水变化和氮沉降对荒漠草原两种多年生禾草凋落物分解的影响

凋落物分解是陆地生态系统养分循环的重要过程,在生物地球化学循环过程中发挥着重要作用。全球变化是影响凋落物分解的重要因子,其对生态系统养分循环的影响存在诸多不确定性。研究荒漠草原凋落物分解对氮沉降和降水变化及其二者交互作用的响应,是揭示这些不确定性、保护草原生态系统结构和功能的科学基础。以内蒙古四子王旗短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,选取建群种短花针茅和优势种无芒隐子草两种植物凋落物,开展为期4年的长期分解实验,探究两种植物凋落物分解特征及养分释放规律。实验采用裂区设计,主区为自然降水（C）、增雨30%（W）和减雨30%（R）3个水分梯度,副区为0（N0）、30（N30）、50（N50）和100（N100） kg hm^-2 a^-1 4个氮素梯度。结果表明：（1）增雨和氮沉降促进荒漠草原凋落物分解,减雨反之,降水对两种凋落物影响具有差异,而氮沉降的作用不依赖于物种;（2）氮沉降缩短凋落物分解周期5.12%-14.82%,增雨与氮沉降交互缩短凋落物分解周期3.69%-28.75%;（3）降水始终有利于凋落物中碳、纤维素和木质素释放,而分解后期氮沉降对其影响不显著,凋落物分解后期主要受木质素分解速率控制。综上所述,影响荒漠草原凋落物分解的主要因素为降水,其次是氮素,二者对凋落物分解具有协同作用。     

Dry deposition of nitrate to a deciduous forest

Because dry-deposition inputs are difficult to measure, they are often ignored in biogeochemical studies. In this study three separate methods were used to estimate dry deposition of nitrate to a deciduous forest (Walker Branch Watershed) in eastern Tennessee. The range of estimates of dry-deposition flux was from 1.8 to 9.1 kg NO₃ ^--N ha^-1 yr^-1 Using a hybrid approach that combines some aspects of all three methods, a best estimate of 4.8 kg NO₃ ^--N ha^-1 yr^-1 was derived. About 75% of this flux is attributable to deposition of HNO₃, vapor with large particles contributing most of the remainder; the contribution from small particles is negligible. The range of estimates obtained from the three techniques suggest that dry-deposition measurements should be interpreted with caution.Our best estimate indicates that dry deposition of NO₃ ^- is the largest single form of inorganic nitrogen (N) deposition to this forest, contributing almost half of the 10.1 kg N ha^-1 total annual input. All of the enhancement of NO₃ ^- deposition in stemflow and throughfall relative to incident precipitation can be explained by washoff of dry-deposited NO₃ ^-, and some canopy uptake of dry-deposited NO₃ ^- is suggested. This uptake occurs primarily during the growing season and contributes from 0.2 to 7.5 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 to the N requirements of the ecosystem, with a best estimate of 3.2. Despite the uncertainties, the magnitude of the potential input fluxes to forested ecosystems necessitates consideration of nitrate dry deposition in ecosystem nitrogen cycling studies.     

Feedback of grazing on gross rates of N mineralization and inorganic N partitioning in steppe soils of Inner Mongolia

Plant-microbe interactions are crucial regulators of belowground nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, such interactions have mostly been excluded from experimental setups for the investigation of gross inorganic N fluxes and N partitioning to plants and microorganisms. Ungulate grazing is likely to feed back on soil N fluxes, and hence it is of special importance to simultaneously investigate grazing effects on both plant and microbial N fluxes in intact plant-soil systems, where plant-microbe interactions persist during the experimental incubation. Based on the homogenous ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ labelling of intact plant-soil monoliths we investigated how various stocking rates (0, 2.35, 4.8 and 7.85 sheep ha^?1 grazing season^?1) in steppe of Inner Mongolia feedback on gross rates of N mineralization and short-term inorganic N partitioning between plant, microbial and soil N pools. Our results showed that the effect of grazing on gross N mineralization was non-uniform. At low stocking rate gross N mineralization tended to decrease but increased with higher grazing pressure. Hence, there was no significant correlation between stocking rate and gross N mineralization across the investigated grazing intensities. Grazing decreased ¹⁵N recovery both in plant and microbial N pools but strongly promoted NO ₃ ^? accumulation in the soil and thus negatively affected potential ecosystem N retention. This appeared to be closely related to the grazing-induced decline in easily degradable soil C availability at increasing stocking rate.     

典型草原建群种羊草对氮磷添加的生理生态响应

由于人类活动和气候变化的共同作用, 大气氮(N)沉降日益加剧, 使得陆地生态系统中的可利用性N显著增加, 生态系统更易受其他元素如磷(P)的限制。然而, 目前关于N、P养分添加对草原生态系统不同组织水平的影响研究较少, 相关机制尚不清楚。该文以内蒙古典型羊草(Leymus chinensis)草原为研究对象, 通过连续两年(2011-2012年)的N和P养分添加实验, 研究建群种羊草的生理生态性状、种群生物量和群落初级生产力对N、P添加的响应及其适应机制。结果表明: 羊草草原不同组织水平对N、P添加的响应不同。群落水平上, 地上净初级生产力在不同降水年份均受N和P元素的共同限制, N、P共同添加显著提高了地上净初级生产力; 物种水平上, N、P添加对羊草种群生物量和密度, 以及相对生物量均没有显著影响, 表明羊草能够维持种群的相对稳定; 个体水平上, 在正常降水年份(2011年), 羊草生长主要受N素限制, 而在湿润年份(2012年), 降水增加使得羊草生长没有受到明显的养分限制。羊草通过增加比叶面积、叶片大小和叶片N含量, 提高整体光合能力, 以促进个体生长。总之, 内蒙古典型草原群落净初级生产力受N、P元素共同限制, 作为建群种的羊草, 其对N、P添加的响应因组织水平而异, 也受年际间降水变化的影响。     

Spatial and temporal variation of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the North China Plain

A monitoring network of nine sites was established to determine the spatial and temporal variation of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in the North China Plain (NCP) over a two-year period. The annual bulk deposition of inorganic N in the North China Plain ranged from 18.4 to 38.5 kg/hm² and averaged 28.0 kg/hm². The concentration of NH₄ -N and NO₃^--N in rainwater averaged 3.76 and 1.85 mg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values at background sites in China (normally less than 0.5 mg/L). Annual bulk deposition of inorganic N in the Beijing area (32.5 kg/hm²) was higher than that in Shandong and Hebei provinces (21.2 kg/hm² on an average). Also bulk N deposition was much greater in Dongbeiwang and Fangshan than in Yanqing and Shunyi counties. Significant spatial variation of bulk deposition was observed in the Beijing area because of variation of precipitation, and 60% of bulk deposition occurred from June to September. Bulk deposition of NH₄ -N was 2.0 times that of NO₃^--N deposition at the rural monitoring sites. However, the situation was reversed at the Beijing Academy of Agricultural-Forestry Sciences (BAAFS), the unique urban monitoring site. The results suggest that reduced N in precipitation is dominant in rural regions, but oxidized N is the major form in urban regions. The positive relationship between inorganic N deposition and precipitation can be fitted by a power equation (r²= 0.67), showing an increase of NH₄ -N and NO₃^--N inputs with increased precipitation. Wet deposition of N accounted for 73% of the bulk deposition, implying that dry deposition of N, particularly NH₄ -N from dust, is important in the North China Plain.     

Spatial and temporal variation of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the North China Plain

A monitoring network of nine sites was established to determine the spatial and temporal variation of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in the North China Plain (NCP) over a two-year period. The annual bulk deposition of inorganic N in the North China Plain ranged from 18.4 to 38.5 kg/hm² and averaged 28.0 kg/hm². The concentration of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^?-N in rainwater averaged 3.76 and 1.85 mg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values at background sites in China (normally less than 0.5 mg/L). Annual bulk deposition of inorganic N in the Beijing area (32.5 kg/hm²) was higher than that in Shandong and Hebei provinces (21.2 kg/hm² on an average). Also bulk N deposition was much greater in Dongbeiwang and Fangshan than in Yanqing and Shunyi counties. Significant spatial variation of bulk deposition was observed in the Beijing area because of variation of precipitation, and 60% of bulk deposition occurred from June to September. Bulk deposition of NH₄⁺-N was 2.0 times that of NO₃^?-N deposition at the rural monitoring sites. However, the situation was reversed at the Beijing Academy of Agricultural-Forestry Sciences (BAAFS), the unique urban monitoring site. The results suggest that reduced N in precipitation is dominant in rural regions, but oxidized N is the major form in urban regions. The positive relationship between inorganic N deposition and precipitation can be fitted by a power equation (r²= 0.67), showing an increase of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^?-N inputs with increased precipitation. Wet deposition of N accounted for 73% of the bulk deposition, implying that dry deposition of N, particularly NH₄⁺-N from dust, is important in the North China Plain.     

氮素添加和刈割对内蒙古弃耕草地土壤氮矿化的影响

以内蒙古多伦县恢复生态学试验示范研究站弃耕10余年的草地为研究对象,于2006年起分别设置对照、氮素添加、刈割和氮素添加+刈割4种处理,每种处理6次重复,研究弃耕草地氮素添加和刈割对土壤氮矿化的影响,结合土壤理化性质和植被地上生产力的动态变化,分析弃耕草地土壤氮矿化对植被恢复的响应,为当地草地恢复与重建提供理论依据和数据支持。实验结果表明:1氮素添加显著增加了植物地上净初级生产力(ANPP)和土壤无机氮库,与对照相比分别提高115%和196%,同时显著提高了土壤总硝化速率;但是氮素添加对总氨化速率、土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量碳氮比(MBC/MBN)、微生物呼吸(MR)以及呼吸熵(q CO2)均无显著影响;2总氨化速率和硝化速率对刈割处理的响应均不显著,但是刈割处理显著降低了土壤MR(P0.05);3氮素添加+刈割处理5—7a后,土壤总氨化和硝化速率均无显著变化;但是氮素添加+刈割处理显著增加了ANPP、土壤无机氮库和q CO2,同时显著降低了MBC和MBC/MBN。这说明在弃耕草地适应性管理中,氮素添加可以显著提高草地生产力,但是长期的氮添加对土壤微生物氮的转化是否有利还值得我们进一步研究。     

氮素和水分添加对贝加尔针茅草原植物多样性及生物量的影响

为了解草原植物群落物种多样性和植物地上生物量对氮沉降增加和降水变化的响应,在内蒙古贝加尔针茅(Stipa baicalensis)草原,分别设置对照(N0)、1.5 g/m2(N15)、3.0 g/m2(N30)、5.0 g/m2(N50)、10.0 g/m2(N100)、15.0 g/m2(N150)、20.0g/m2(N200)和30.0 g/m2(N300)(不包括大气沉降的氮量)8个氮素(NH4NO3)添加梯度和模拟夏季增加降水100mm的水分添加交互试验,研究氮素和水分添加对草原群落植物物种多样性和几种常见植物地上生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)氮素和水分的添加降低了草原群落植物物种多样性,且氮素和水分有显著的互作效应。在水分添加的条件下,随着施氮水平的增加,群落植物物种多样性减小;在无水分添加的条件下,随着施氮水平的增加,群落植物物种多样性呈先增加后减小的"单峰"变化趋势。(2)不同植物对氮素和水分添加的响应不同,随着施氮水平的增加,羊草地上生物量显著增加;贝加尔针茅、羽茅、糙隐子草、寸草苔和冷蒿先增加后减少,呈单峰曲线;星毛委陵菜、牧马豆、扁蓄豆和线叶菊地上生物量则逐渐减少。而且氮素和水分对贝加尔针茅、羽茅、扁蓄豆地上生物量有显著的交互作用。     

Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition at Two Sites in an Arid Environment of Central Asia

Arid areas play a significant role in the global nitrogen cycle. Dry and wet deposition of inorganic nitrogen (N) species were monitored at one urban (SDS) and one suburban (TFS) site at Urumqi in a semi-arid region of central Asia. Atmospheric concentrations of NH₃, NO₂, HNO₃, particulate ammonium and nitrate (pNH₄ ⁺ and pNO₃ ⁻) concentrations and NH₄-N and NO₃-N concentrations in precipitation showed large monthly variations and averaged 7.1, 26.6, 2.4, 6.6, 2.7 µg N m⁻³ and 1.3, 1.0 mg N L⁻¹ at both SDS and TFS. Nitrogen dry deposition fluxes were 40.7 and 36.0 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ while wet deposition of N fluxes were 6.0 and 8.8 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ at SDS and TFS, respectively. Total N deposition averaged 45.8 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹at both sites. Our results indicate that N dry deposition has been a major part of total N deposition (83.8% on average) in an arid region of central Asia. Such high N deposition implies heavy environmental pollution and an important nutrient resource in arid regions.     

1961-2010年内蒙古草原植被分布和生产力变化——基于MaxEnt模型和综合模型的模拟分析

定量评估气候变化对内蒙古草原植被分布及其净第一性生产力的影响有助于理解干旱区域生态系统结构和功能对气候变化的响应。基于最大熵模型（MaxEnt）评价了气候因子的重要性,进而模拟了1961-2010年内蒙古草原植被的地理分布,同时应用综合模型模拟了净第一性生产力变化。研究表明,湿润指数（MI）、年降水量（P）、最暖月平均温度（T_w）和最冷月平均温度（T_c）是决定草原植被分布的主导气候因子。1961-2010年内蒙古草甸草原、典型草原和荒漠草原分布面积分别减少了5%、1%和62%,草原面积整体减少了11%,预示着草原向着荒漠化的方向发展。降水是决定内蒙古草原净第一性生产力变化的最重要因素。     

Recovery of soil nitrogen pools in species‐rich grasslands after 12 years of simulated pollutant nitrogen deposition: a 6‐year experimental analysis

Nitrogen (N) deposition from anthropogenic sources is a global problem that can reduce biodiversity and impair ecosystem functioning through effects on soil eutrophication and acidification. While increasing controls on emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) have reduced European N deposition rates from their peak in the late 20th Century, little is known about the legacy effects of N deposition in soils or the reversibility of N‐induced shifts in ecosystem processes. We studied species‐rich limestone and acidic grasslands, located in a highly polluted region that received over 3000 kg N deposition ha^?1 throughout the 20th Century, followed by a decline of ～50% in NO_x deposition rate in the past two decades. We investigated the effects on seasonal and annual mean concentrations of soil mineral N in experimental plots established in 1990 receiving simulated enhanced N deposition (0–140 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) until 2002, both in the final year of treatment, and the subsequent 5 years of ‘recovery’ following cessation of treatments. Winter–summer cycles of N mineralization–immobilization were strongly amplified by simulated N deposition rates through the final year of treatments and into the first year of recovery, with winter concentrations of ammonium‐N in the acidic grassland and nitrate in the limestone grassland enhanced by up to 360% and 450%, respectively. Both the magnitude of the seasonal variations and the residual effects of the treatments on soil mineral N concentrations decreased progressively in the first 5 years after treatments ceased, although dose‐dependent trends remained in the acidic grassland. This study establishes that reducing N deposition rates in species‐rich grasslands can reverse eutrophication, even in soils that have experienced prolonged high rates of deposition. It provides new insight into the rates of recovery following, and effects of, declining N deposition rates with implications for restoration of species‐rich grasslands.     

Cloudwater Inputs of Nitrogen to Forest Ecosystems in Southern Chile: Forms, Fluxes, and Sources

Nitrogen (N) has been considered a limiting nutrient to many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, human activity has resulted in increased atmospheric N deposition worldwide such that N pollution is now altering ecosystem function in many locations. Research on atmospheric deposition has focused primarily on inorganic nitrogen (DIN; NH₄ ⁺-N + NO₃ ⁻-N) via rainwater and dry deposition as the main N input to ecosystems. Recently, organic N (ON) has been shown to be an important constituent in rainwater or dry deposition. Here we show that ON dominated (66%) total N in cloudwater from a remote site in southern Chile. Cloudwater from more human-impacted sites in northeastern USA had lower ON concentrations and DIN was dominant. We estimate that cloudwater delivers up to 2 kg ha⁻¹ DIN and 9 kg ha⁻¹ ON annually, compared to less than 1 kg ha⁻¹ of DIN deposition via rainwater, thus it may contribute substantially to the N-economy of Chilean coastal forests. We also suggest that the adjacent ocean, where biologic productivity is high, may be a major source of N in Chilean cloudwater. This proposed marine-terrestrial flux via cloud deposition has not previously been identified and may be an example of the ocean feeding the forest. We suggest that this type of cross boundary flux may be common in other upwelling zones, such as along the west coasts of Africa, North and South America and east India, and warrants further substantiation and investigation. Received 30 June 2000; accepted 18 October 2000     

Biogeochemistry of unpolluted forested watersheds in the Oregon Cascades: temporal patterns of precipitation and stream nitrogen fluxes

We analyzed long-term organic and inorganic nitrogen inputs and outputs in precipitation and streamwater in six watersheds at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the central Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Total bulk N deposition, averaging 1.6 to 2.0 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1, is low compared to other sites in the United States and little influenced by anthropogenic N sources. Streamwater N export is also low, averaging <1 kg ha^–1 yr^–1. DON is the predominant form of N exported from all watersheds, followed by PON, NH₄-N, and NO₃-N. Total annual stream discharge was a positive predictor of annual DON output in all six watersheds, suggesting that DON export is related to regional precipitation. In contrast, annual discharge was a positive predictor of annual NO₃-N output in one watershed, annual NH₄-N output in three watersheds, and annual PON output in three watersheds. Of the four forms of N, only DON had consistent seasonal concentration patterns in all watersheds. Peak streamwater DON concentrations occurred in November-December after the onset of fall rains but before the peak in the hydrograph, probably due to flushing of products of decomposition that had built up during the dry summer. Multiple biotic controls on the more labile nitrate and ammonium concentrations in streams may obscure temporal DIN flux patterns from the terrestrial environment. Results from this study underscore the value of using several watersheds from a single climatic zone to make inferences about controls on stream N chemistry; analysis of a single watershed may preclude identification of geographically extensive mechanisms controlling N dynamics.     

降水时间对内蒙古温带草原地上净初级生产力的影响

全球气候变化下降水时间的改变将深刻影响草原生态系统地上净初级生产力(ANPP),而草原生态系统ANPP是区域碳循环的重要过程.利用1998-2007年的SPOT-VEG NDVI数据并结合111个样点的ANPP地面样方调查数据,获得了内蒙古温带草原1998-2007年的ANPP区域数据,依此分析了中国内蒙古温带草原以及区域内的3种植被类型(荒漠草原、典型草原、草甸草原)降水时间对ANPP的影响.研究结果表明,对于整个内蒙古温带草原来说,一个水分年内(从上一年9月份到当年地上生物量达最大值时的8月份)影响ANPP较为重要的降水月份为2-7月份,其中,5-7月份降水尤为重要.具体到每个月降水的影响,研究发现,7月份降水最重要,而仍处于生长季的8月份降水相对于其他生长季降水作用最小;影响不同草地类型最重要的降水时期存在一定差异,对荒漠草原和典型草原地区来说,ANPP达最大值前3个月(5-7月份)的生长季降水最重要,而8月份降水影响较小,而草甸草原地区8月份和非生长季的3、4月份降水最重要,但各个降水时期降水对ANPP的影响都较荒漠草原和典型草原小,大部分地区降水对ANPP的影响不显著.     

荒漠草原异常降水对不同载畜率植物群落物种组成及多样性的影响

放牧和异常降水对荒漠草原生态系统产生了显著的影响,群落物种组成及多样性因降水和载畜率的改变而变化。然而不同载畜率下荒漠草原植物群落物种组成及多样性对异常降水的响应尚不明晰。本研究以内蒙古短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)荒漠草原为研究对象,调查并分析不同载畜率(绵羊,CK:不放牧、LG:0.93、MG:1.82和HG:2.71羊单位hm^-2半年^-1)放牧区植物群落物种组成及其数量特征。结果表明：降水增加对群落数量特征和物种多样性促进作用显著,但对群落物种优势度指数有显著抑制作用;降水增加使得不同功能属性物种数目增多,引起建群种物种综合优势度降低,从而改变群落物种组成及多样性;不同功能属性物种对载畜率的响应存在差异,群落物种组成及多样性在响应异常降水变化时,降水与载畜率之间协同变化和相互制约,但直根系C3植物和群落总密度的变化主要受载畜率影响。异常降水可影响长期过度放牧引起的生态系统过程,对草地生态系统恢复有积极作用。     

水氮添加对内蒙古温带典型草原植被氮含量季节和年际动态的影响

作为对全球变化响应最敏感的生态系统类型之一,草原生态系统植被氮含量的季节、年际变化及其对气候变化(氮沉降、降水格局改变)的响应研究相对匮乏。基于内蒙古温带典型草原5年的氮添加(10 g N m^-2 a^-1)和水添加(添加量80 mm,分2 mm×40次、5 mm×16次、10 mm×8次、20 mm×4次、40 mm×2次5种处理)控制试验分析了水氮添加后植被氮含量在生态系统和物种两个水平的季节和年际变化。结果表明,高强度水添加处理有降低(10 mm/次和40 mm/次)生态系统氮含量的趋势,但不显著,小强度水添加处理(2 mm/次、5 mm/次)在不同年份之间无一致的升高或降低趋势,但所有水添加处理有降低两种优势物种整个生长季氮含量的趋势。氮添加促进生态系统和两种优势物种整个生长季的氮含量,但该促进作用可被水添加抵消,且这种抵消作用随水氮添加年限的延长而加剧。水氮添加均增加了生态系统氮含量的年际变异,但对特定物种季节内变异的影响在湿润和干旱年份存在一定差异。本研究将为预测草原生态系统对未来氮沉降增加和降水格局改变的响应及模型改进提供科学依据...     

蒙古高原草原火行为的时空格局与影响因子

采用GIS空间分析方法和L3JRC遥感卫星数据,研究了2000-2007年间蒙古高原草原火行为的时空分布规律,比较了中国内蒙古自治区和蒙古人民共和国草原火行为的差异,分析了植被、气候与人文因素等对草原火行为的影响.结果表明：不同植被类型间的过火率存在极显著差异（P<0.001）,为草甸草原>典型草原>荒漠草原,蒙古人民共和国草原过火率显著高于中国内蒙古自治区(P<0.001),过火频次的分布格局与过火迹地相一致.草原火行为存在明显的年际变化特征,草甸草原(r²=-0.54,P<0.05)和典型草原（r²=-0.61,P<0.05）的年过火率与年降雨量呈负相关关系;草原火集中在降水较少、风速较大的春、秋两季.中国内蒙古自治区的人口密度和载畜密度远高于蒙古人民共和国,而过火率则相反,表明人文因素,尤其是过度放牧是导致中国内蒙古自治区和蒙古人民共和国火行为差异的主要原因.     

Microbial N Turnover and N-Oxide (N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O/NO/NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) Fluxes in Semi-arid Grassland of Inner Mongolia

Gross rates of N mineralization and nitrification, and soil–atmosphere fluxes of N₂O, NO and NO₂ were measured at differently grazed and ungrazed steppe grassland sites in the Xilin river catchment, Inner Mongolia, P. R. China, during the 2004 and 2005 growing season. The experimental sites were a plot ungrazed since 1979 (UG79), a plot ungrazed since 1999 (UG99), a plot moderately grazed in winter (WG), and an overgrazed plot (OG), all in close vicinity to each other. Gross rates of N mineralization and nitrification determined at in situ soil moisture and soil temperature conditions were in a range of 0.5–4.1 mg N kg⁻¹ soil dry weight day⁻¹. In 2005, gross N turnover rates were significantly higher at the UG79 plot than at the UG99 plot, which in turn had significantly higher gross N turnover rates than the WG and OG plots. The WG and the OG plot were not significantly different in gross ammonification and in gross nitrification rates. Site differences in SOC content, bulk density and texture could explain only less than 15% of the observed site differences in gross N turnover rates. N₂O and NO _x flux rates were very low during both growing seasons. No significant differences in N trace gas fluxes were found between plots. Mean values of N₂O fluxes varied between 0.39 and 1.60 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹, equivalent to 0.03–0.14 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, and were considerably lower than previously reported for the same region. NO _x flux rates ranged between 0.16 and 0.48 μg NO _x -N m⁻² h⁻¹, equivalent to 0.01–0.04 kg NO _x -N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, respectively. N₂O fluxes were significantly correlated with soil temperature and soil moisture. The correlations, however, explained only less than 20% of the flux variance.