新疆天山野生果树研究及保护

根据多年调查和初步统计,新疆天山山区的野生果树种类有81种,由于新疆天山野果林生态系统受到人类经济活动的强烈影响,野果林分布范围缩减、面积下降,物种减少,有的濒临灭绝状态,必须引起重视,本研究提出了新疆野生果树资源保护和可持续利用的建议及对策：（1）加强新疆野生果树种质资源的收集和保存;（2）开展资源调查、评价与利用工作,保育和开发利用并重,实现资源的永续利用;（3）应及早建立新疆新源野苹果林自然保护区和霍城大西沟野生樱桃李自然保护区。     

Succulent plants on arid inselbergs

Succulent plants in arid areas are believed to be often associated with high altitudes, except where they form the dominant, zonal vegetation such as in the Succulent Karoo Biome of southern Africa. To test this hypothesis the contribution of perennial succulents to inselberg floras was investigated on twenty-two isolated mountains (inselbergs) at four study sites (Etendeka–Barab: 19°34′ S/13°42′ E; Spitzkoppe: 21°49′ S/15°09′ E; Namibrand: 25°17′ S/15°47′ E; and Sperrgebiet: 27°43′ S/16°04′ E) along a nearly 1000 km bioclimatic gradient in the Namib Desert and adjacent areas, from the Succulent Karoo in the south to the northern Namib, and along altitude gradients.The contribution of succulents to the flora clearly increased with altitude at the two central study sites, thus showing a hump-shaped trend along the bioclimatic gradient. No such correlation was found at the northern and southern end of the bioclimatic gradient. The surrounding (rocky) lowlands likely resulted in a more even distribution of succulents throughout the landscape in the north, while the position in the heartland of the succulent flora in southern Africa at the southern-most site, levelled out potential patterns related to altitude. Nevertheless, even here, a fair number of succulents restricted to mountain habitats occur. This is the case in all other study sites, where succulents restricted to mountain habitats are always present.Some perennial succulents, such as Aridaria noctiflora, Euphorbia gummifera and Tetragonia reduplicata indicate an upward movement with increasing distance from the Succulent Karoo, by growing on plains and lowlands in the Succulent Karoo, but only on inselbergs at study sites north of the Succulent Karoo.Many of the mountain specialist succulents are sought after by plant collectors, such as species of Conophytum, Crassula and Lithops. Protecting and monitoring vulnerable populations as well as growing these in horticulture may help to alleviate the pressure on some of these rare species in nature. Preserving genetic material of isolated populations from mountain tops ex situ is another important conservation measure, and particularly important in the view of anticipated climatic change.     

Growth response of Abies georgei to climate increases with elevation in the central Hengduan Mountains,southwestern China

Climatic harshness is expected to increase at higher elevations; however, elevational trends of tree radial growth response of high-elevation forests to climate change need to be investigated at different locations because of existing local variability in site-specific climatic conditions. We developed tree-ring width chronologies of Yunnan fir (Abies georgei) along elevation gradients at two sites in the central Hengduan Mountains (HM). High-elevation forests of A. georgei showed growth synchronicity and common growth signals along elevation gradients, indicating a common climatic forcing, although tree radial growth rates decreased with increasing elevation. Radial growth of Yunnan fir showed positive correlations with summer temperatures and February precipitation and moisture availability, but were negatively correlated with spring temperatures. The strongest positive relationship indicated summer (July) mean and minimum temperatures are the most important growth determining climatic factors for tree radial growth in the cold environment of HM, and this relationship revealed a clear elevational trend with stronger correlations at higher altitudes. In contrast, tree radial growth was negatively correlated with June precipitation and moisture availability. The whole study period 1954–2015 was split in two sub-periods of equal length. Comparing the early sub-period (1954–1984) to the later sub-period (1985–2015), tree growth response to the summer temperatures strongly increased, while it became weaker to June precipitation and moisture availability. High-elevation Yunnan fir forests in the HM currently benefit from elevated growing season temperatures under humid summer conditions. However, increasing temperatures may induce drought stress on tree radial growth if the observed decreasing trend in humidity and precipitation continues.     

Exploring invasibility with species distribution modeling: How does fire promote cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion within lower montane forests?

Aim

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is notorious for creating positive feedbacks that facilitate vegetation type conversion within sagebrush steppe ecosystems in the western United States. Similar dynamics may exist in adjacent lower montane forest. However, fire‐forest‐cheatgrass dynamics have not been examined. We used species distribution modeling to answer three questions about fire and invasibility in lower montane forests: (Q1) Does fire create more suitable habitat for cheatgrass? (Q2) If so, which site attributes are altered to increase site suitability? (Q3) Does fire increase connectivity among suitable habitat and enhance spread?

Location

Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming, USA.

Methods

We measured cheatgrass presence–absence in 93 plots within Interior Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) forests. Random Forests predicted cheatgrass distribution with and without fire using nine site attributes: elevation, slope, aspect, solar radiation, annual precipitation, maximum temperature in July, minimum temperature in January, forest canopy cover and distance to nearest trail or road. Additionally, invasion pathways and spread were mapped using Circuitscape.

Results

Cheatgrass distribution was controlled by topographic and climate variables in the absence of fire. In particular, cheatgrass was most likely to occur at low elevation along dry, south‐ and east‐facing slopes. High‐severity fire increased potential cheatgrass distribution when forest canopy cover was reduced to below 30%. This process created new invasion pathways, which enhanced cheatgrass spread when modelled in Circuitscape.

Main conclusions

Our study showed that in the absence of fire, drier south‐ and east‐facing slopes at low elevation are most susceptible to cheatgrass invasion. However, high‐severity fire increased the total area susceptible to invasion—allowing cheatgrass to expand into previously unsuitable sites within lower montane forests in the western United States. These results are important for present day management and reflect that integrating responses to disturbance in species distribution models can be critical for making predictions about dynamically changing systems.

     

长白山高山冻原植被生物量的分布规律

从物种生物量、优势种器官生物量和植被生物量角度,探讨了长白山高山冻原生态系统生物量的空间变化规律．结果表明,在调查的43种长白山高山冻原植物中,单物种生物量排序前5种植物分别是牛皮杜鹃(Rhododendron chrysanthum)(159．01kg·hm^-2)、笃斯越桔(Vaccinium jiliginosum var．alpinum)(137．52kg·hm^-2)、高山笃斯(Vaccinium uliginosum)(134．7kg·hm^-2)、宽叶仙女木(Dryas octopetala var．asiatica)(131．5kg·hm^-2)圆叶柳(Salix rotundifolia)(128．4kg·hm^-2)．它们是长白山高山冻原生态系统的优势种．地下与地上生物量和地下与总生物量之比随海拔升高逐渐增加．植被生物量随海拔升高。总体呈逐渐减小的趋势。植被生物量与海拔高度呈显著负相关．长白山高山冻原生态系统平均生物量为2．21t·hm^-2,对调节长白山小气候、涵养水源、水土保持等生态服务功能的发挥有着重要的作用。同时对固定大气CO2起着汇的作用。     

长白山阔叶红松林退化生态系统的土壤呼吸作用

选择处于全球变化中国东北样带东部典型生态系统的长白山阔叶红松林作为研究区,采用动态气室-CO₂红外分析法测定了森林生态系统不同退化阶段的土壤呼吸作用.结果表明：在生长季,长白山阔叶红松林不同退化阶段的土壤呼吸动态变化呈单峰型曲线,在7-8月达到最大值;不同退化阶段林地土壤呼吸大小顺序为：杨桦林＞蒙古栎林＞阔叶红松林＞硬阔叶林＞裸地.其中,杨桦林和蒙古栎林样地的碳释放量分别为对照阔叶红松林的1.4和1.3倍,硬阔叶林和裸地的碳释放量分别为对照阔叶红松林的88%和78%.     

The herb and dwarf shrubs colonization of decaying logs in subalpine forest in the Polish Tatra Mountains

This is a study of the colonization pattern of herbs and dwarf shrubs on rotten logs in subalpine spruce forests (Plagiothecio Piceetum) in the Tatra Mountains. On four study plots (total area 1.43 ha.) all dead logs were measured and the decomposition stage was estimated using the 8-degree scale. For each log the cover of all vascular species, bryophytes and lichens was determined according to the methods of classical phytosociology. Constancy and an index of coverage were calculated for all vascular species growing on logs. The total volume of logs was relatively high (93 m³ ha^–1) and constituted 22% of the volume of living trees. Logs and stumps covered 411 m² ha^–1. These values are similar to those known from natural spruce forest from Carpathians and Scandinavia. The 8 stages of decomposition were equally represented, which indicates a constant supply of dead wood to the forest floor over time. The colonization of dead wood starts with lichens, followed by bryophytes and finally herbs and tree saplings. The first vascular plant colonists of dead logs appear at decay stage nr. 3 at least 20 years after tree death. The most suitable condition for most of the herb species corresponds to decay stage nr. 6 ca. 50 years after tree death. The herb cover is distinctively dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus. Simultaneously with herb species, tree seedlings colonize the logs. Constancy and abundance of Norway spruce saplings increases with advanced decomposition. It seems that the herb cover of logs does not hinder the regeneration of spruce.     

森林生态系统的水源涵养功能及其计量方法

为全面认识与正确评价森林生态系统的水源涵养功能,本文探讨了其概念、表现形式及其计量方法,认为：1）森林的水源涵养功能是一个动态、综合的概念,随着人们对森林水文作用认识的不断深入,其内涵不断丰富扩大,因此森林的水源涵养功能概念存在狭义和广义之分;2）森林的水源涵养功能（广义）有多种表现形式,包括拦蓄降水、调节径流、影响降雨和净化水质等,不过其具体表现形式与研究对象、研究目的以及研究尺度有关;3）目前森林拦蓄降水功能的计量方法主要有土壤蓄水能力法、水量平衡法、年径流量法和多因子回归法等8种,不过这些方法都存在一定的局限性,实际应用中需要综合考虑。     

Ground‐nesting by the chimpanzees of the Nimba Mountains,Guinea: environmentally or socially determined?

The chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) of the Nimba Mountains, Guinea, West Africa, commonly make both elaborate ("night") and simple ("day") nests on the ground. In this study we investigated which factors might influence ground-nesting in this population, and tested two ecological hypotheses: 1) climatic conditions, such as high wind speeds at high altitudes, may deter chimpanzees from nesting in trees; and 2) a lack of appropriate arboreal nesting opportunities may drive the chimpanzees to nest on the ground. In addition to testing these two hypotheses, we explored whether ground-nesting is a sex-linked behavior. Data were collected monthly between August 2003 and May 2004 along transects and ad libitum. To identify the sex of ground-nesting individuals, we used DNA extracted from hair samples. The results showed that the occurrence and distribution of ground nests were not affected by climatic conditions or a lack of appropriate nest trees. Support was found for the notion that ground-nesting is a sex-linked behavior, as males were responsible for building all of the elaborate ground nests and most of the simple ground nests sampled. Elaborate ground nests occurred mostly in nest groups associated with tree nests, whereas simple ground nests usually occurred without tree nests in their vicinity. These results suggest that ground-nesting may be socially, rather than ecologically, determined.