An improved indicator of simulated grassland production based on MODIS NDVI and GPP data: A case study in the Sichuan province,China

Grassland monitoring is important for both global change research and regional sustainable development. Gross primary production (GPP) is one of the key factors for understanding grass growing conditions. Methods for estimating GPP are plentiful, and the light use efficiency (LUE) model based on remote sensing data is widely used. The MODIS GPP product, which is employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is calculated using the LUE model and the surface reflection data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer onboard the Terra/Aqua satellite. The MODIS GPP product harbors its own uncertainties arising from the sources and parameters, such as FPAR and light use efficiency (ɛ). In this study, we propose an improved indicator for monitoring grassland based on MODIS GPP and NDVI data. Fractional vegetation coverage and the percentage of grass area (1 km²) were used to reduce the mixed pixel effect. A function of NDVI was used to simulate the light use efficiency and FPAR. The modified GPP data were calculated and validated with in situ measured data from the Sichuan province, China, 2011. The results indicated that the modified GPP data were a more accurate indicator for monitoring grassland than previous indicators, and the precision of grass production simulated by SsGPP_ndvi reached 85.6%. Spatial statistic results were consistent with the practical condition in most cases. Since MODIS data are available twice a day, the improved indicator can meet the actual requirement of grassland monitoring at regional scale.     

三江源区高寒坡地退化植物群落多样性和地上生物量沿海拔梯度的变化特征

山地生态系统退化对生物多样性和地上生物量,以及相互关系在海拔高度梯度上的格局影响,是认识全球变化和人类干扰引起自然生态系统变化的重要内容。以青藏高原三江源区高寒坡地退化草甸和灌丛为研究对象,探讨退化草甸、灌丛群落物种多样性与地上生物量关系及其沿海拔梯度的变化规律。结果表明:(1)坡地退化的上坡位植被盖度显著大于下坡位(P＜0.05)。坡地退化高寒草甸和高寒灌丛,植物物种多样性沿海拔梯度变化规律一致,均呈现"单峰"分布格局。坡地退化高寒草甸Shannon-wiener指数和Simpson指数二次回归方程解释度达到80%和70%以上(P＜0.05)。(2)坡地退化高寒草甸和高寒灌丛的地上生物量与海拔梯度的变化规律一致,即随海拔升高高寒坡地地上生物量呈先增加后降低的变化趋势。海拔梯度对退化高寒山地地上生物量的解释度达到85%以上(P＜0.05)。(3)物种多样性和地上生物量的关系在两个坡地上表现出一致的规律,呈线性增加的变化趋势。高寒草甸坡地回归方程解释度达到70%,高寒灌丛坡地达到60%(P＜0.05)。坡地退化高寒灌丛植物群落多样性和地上生物量高于高寒草甸植物群落。高寒坡地退化草甸和灌丛植物群落物种多样性以及其与地上生物量之间的关系沿海拔梯度的变化规律一致,海拔梯度造成的环境差异对植物群落物种多样性和地上生物量影响仍较大。该研究对认识三江源区退化山地形成生态学机制,及提出有效的生态恢复措施具有重要参考价值。     

吉林灌木群落物种多样性与气候和局域环境因子的关系

为了研究气候和局域环境因子对物种多样性的相对作用大小,以及验证两种均匀度地理格局的假说在半湿润地区次生灌丛的适用性,对吉林东、南部地区的灌木群落进行了研究。共调查森林破坏后形成的次生灌丛样方45个,结合气候数据和局域环境因子数据,研究了气候、局域环境因子对群落、灌木层、草本层的物种丰富度、均匀度的影响,以及对不同水分生态型(旱生、旱中生、湿中生)灌木影响的差异。结果表明:1)吉林次生灌丛的群落、草本层物种丰富度,以及草本层均匀度,随纬度增加而显著上升。2)对物种多样性和气候、局域环境因子的分析表明,群落、草本层物种数主要受局域环境因子而不是气候的影响;其物种丰富度与纬度的反常关系,是由于灌木层盖度随降水增加而上升,从而导致物种数下降。灌木层物种数与纬度、气候因子的相关性不显著,则是由于不同水分生态型对气候梯度的响应不一致,反映出功能群对多样性格局的影响。3)群落、灌木层均匀度主要受气候因子的影响;而草本层均匀度主要受局域环境因子的影响,降水同样通过对灌木层盖度的影响间接作用于草本均匀度。但群落、灌木和草本层的结果,都支持均匀度随着环境条件改善而增加的假说,而不支持随着生产力增加、竞争加剧,从而导致均匀度下降的假说。结果表明,物种丰富度和均匀度的影响机制存在很大差异,但二者都受到局域环境因子的强烈影响。气候通过局域生物因素(如盖度、生活型)间接作用于多样性格局,是气候对多样性影响的一个重要方面,但尚未得到应有的重视。由于局域生物因素也随气候而变化,仅研究多样性和气候的表面关系,将无法准确预测气候变化对多样性的影响。     

神农架国家公园林线过渡带土壤真菌多样性

林线过渡带是陆地生态系统对气候变化响应的敏感区域,研究林线过渡带土壤真菌的群落结构和形成机制,对于预测气候变化对土壤养分循环和维持陆地生态系统功能的影响具有重要意义。利用Illumina高通量测序技术分析了神农架国家公园林线上下的灌木林和针叶林的土壤真菌群落结构和多样性。结果表明,在真菌物种组成上,两种植被类型的土壤优势菌门、属和种类不同,针叶林和灌木林的优势菌门分别是担子菌门(Basidiomycota)和接合菌门(Zygomycota)。除趋势对应分析(DCA)和不相似性检验(Dissimilarity test)表明两种林型的土壤真菌群落结构组成存在显著差异,且针叶林土壤真菌Shannon指数、Chao值和Richness指数均显著(P0.05)高于灌木林。典范对应分析(CCA)和Mantel检验显示土壤真菌群落结构与土壤p H、植物多样性、土壤温度和土壤湿度存在显著相关性。因此,林线过渡带上下的土壤真菌群落结构和多样性存在显著差异,土壤p H、植物多样性、土壤湿度和土壤温度可能是影响土壤真菌群落结构的重要因素。     

基于WorldView 2影像的矿区植被重建效果评估

植被盖度反映植被质量,是评价矿区复垦土地植被重建效果的重要指标。该文选择安太堡矿区为案例区,基于高空间分辨率World View 2(WV 2)影像新波段,使用混合像元模型和实地数据验证相结合的方法计算得到研究区的植被盖度,并对植被重建效果进行了评估,主要得到以下结论:(1)基于WV 2影像的近红外2波段和红波段,采用混合像元法得到的植被盖度反演值Fc_2与实测值最为接近,相关性最强(R~2=0.934),均方根误差最小(RMSE=0.048);(2)研究区植被重建效果整体较好,中等、较高和高植被盖度区域占研究区的60%以上,低植被盖度仅占22.09%。受植被重建年限和管理措施的影响,不同复垦区域植被重建状况之间存在着差异,内排土场、西排土场、南排土场的植被重建效果较好,而西排土场扩大区植被状况相对较差,其中等及以上植被盖度所占比例依次为75.24%、68.35%、68.20%、22.29%。(3)就植被组合模式看,乔灌草模式重建效果(按冠层盖度)最好,其次是乔草模式,其他模式如灌草、草地、自然恢复地依次降低。土壤表层水分含量随着复垦地植被盖度的增大而增大,说明植被重建状况对土壤表层的水分保持具有重要作用。     

秦岭山地油松天然次生林灌木层主要种群种间联结性与功能群划分

运用χ²检验、联结系数和共同出现程度,测定秦岭山地油松天然次生林灌木层20个主要植物种群的种间联结性.结果表明: 在190个种对中,具有较明显正联结的种对数占总种对数的7.4%,胡枝子与胡颓子、漆树与油松、卫矛与毛樱桃等表现为极显著正联结,绝大多数种对表现为弱联结,正负联结比值均小于1.表明灌木层主要植物种群种对间联结较松散,物种之间存在一定的独立性,处于动态演替的中期阶段,群落稳定性较差.通过种间联结和聚类分析,结合生物学和生态学特征,将灌木层20个主要植物种群划分为4个功能群.同一功能群内物种的生态要求和资源利用方式相近,联结紧密,而不同功能群间联结较为松散.     

How to optimize the precision of allele and haplotype frequency estimates using pooled‐sequencing data

Sequencing pools of individuals rather than individuals separately reduces the costs of estimating allele frequencies at many loci in many populations. Theoretical and empirical studies show that sequencing pools comprising a limited number of individuals (typically fewer than 50) provides reliable allele frequency estimates, provided that the DNA pooling and DNA sequencing steps are carefully controlled. Unequal contributions of different individuals to the DNA pool and the mean and variance in sequencing depth both can affect the standard error of allele frequency estimates. To our knowledge, no study separately investigated the effect of these two factors on allele frequency estimates; so that there is currently no method to a priori estimate the relative importance of unequal individual DNA contributions independently of sequencing depth. We develop a new analytical model for allele frequency estimation that explicitly distinguishes these two effects. Our model shows that the DNA pooling variance in a pooled sequencing experiment depends solely on two factors: the number of individuals within the pool and the coefficient of variation of individual DNA contributions to the pool. We present a new method to experimentally estimate this coefficient of variation when planning a pooled sequencing design where samples are either pooled before or after DNA extraction. Using this analytical and experimental framework, we provide guidelines to optimize the design of pooled sequencing experiments. Finally, we sequence replicated pools of inbred lines of the plant Medicago truncatula and show that the predictions from our model generally hold true when estimating the frequency of known multilocus haplotypes using pooled sequencing.     

The effect of fire and ants on the seed-bank of a shrub in a semi-arid grassland

Abstract Invasion of grasslands by woody plants following the introduction of domestic stock is a worldwide phenomenon. Burning is frequently recommended as a remedial measure but for a pastoral enterprise it is costly and the frequency of the fires required is of critical economic importance. The size and longevity of the soil seed-bank is an essential part of the response of shrub populations to prescribed fire regimes. In this study the seed-bank of the semi-arid zone shrub Dodonaea attenuata in Eragrostis eriopoda tussock grassland was examined in relation to harvesting by ants and the burning history of the sites. On unburnt sites, more than 3500 seeds per m2 entered the seed-bank in the summer 1984–85 but sites burnt 5 years previously produced less than one-third of that number. Burnt shrubs did not flower for 5 years and no seeds survived in the soil through to 1985. Burning immediately prior to seed ripening destroyed the seed crop but burning after seed-fall stimulated a greater germination in the following spring than on unburnt treatments. Ants rapidly harvested most of the seeds produced and after 20 months the combined effects of ant harvesting and germination had reduced the seed-bank at unburnt sites to 8–21 seeds per m2 and at sites burnt 7 years previously to less than two seeds per m2. Seeds were initially harvested in summer by Pheidole spp. of ants for their elaiosome and then discarded in middens outside the entrance to the ant nest. During the subsequent cool season the seeds were taken back into the nest and stored at depths ranging from 2 to 30cm. It was concluded that ants provided short-range dispersal (< 10 m) and promoted the contagious distribution of D. attenuata, which is advantageous for a fire-susceptible, arid-zone shrub invading a grassland liable to be burnt: seedlings derived from seeds in ant storage chambers near the soil surface and in sparse grass situations caused by competition from shrubs may obtain some survival advantage. Prescribed fire has potential as a management tool for controlling population density of D. attenuata because, depending upon season and frequency, it reduces seed rain by killing shrubs, suppresses flowering activity and destroys seed crops on the plant. Under the influence of a regime of regular burning, such as prevailed prior to the European pastoral industry, the limited soil seed-bank would have been a major constraint on D. attenuata populations.     

The mating system of the tropical understory shrub Ardisia escallonioides (Myrsinaceae)

Electrophoretic analysis of progeny arrays was used to determine whether Ardisia escallonioides (Myrsinaceae). a self-compatible tropical understory shrub in south Florida, exhibits a mixed-mating system. Ten seedlings from seven to 16 maternal plants from four populations were analyzed using five polymorphic enzyme systems. Multilocus population out-crossing rates ranged from 0.39 to > 1, with three populations showing high levels of selfing. Both single and multilocus inbreeding coefficients (F) indicated excess homozygosity in seedlings but not adults for three of the four populations. Population outcrossing rate was not positively correlated with increased numbers of flowering plants. The importance of annual variation in population outcrossing rates is discussed with regard to the high temporal variability in seedling recruitment in this species.