Water-holding capacity of ground covers and soils in alpine and sub-alpine shrubs in western Sichuan, China

The water-holding functions of soils and ground covers in terms of moss and litters in the three major shrubs at different altitude gradients were studied using field investigation. The water-holding functions were measured and expressed with Biomass (t/hm²) of moss and litters, along with their maximal water holding capacity (MWHC, t/hm²) and maximal water holding rate (MWHR, %). The physical characteristics of the soils included bulk density, MWHC, capillary water holding capacity (CWHC), and least water holding capacity (LWHC). The result showed that Rhododendron przewalskii shrub exhibited the highest water-holding capacity among the three types. The average MWHC of the moss, litters, and at a depth of 0–40cm in R. przewalskii at different elevation gradients was 46.73,139.98 t/hm², and 2216.92 t/hm², respectively, whereas the average MWHC of the moss, litters, and soils in Quercus aquifolioides was 1.64, 72.08 t/hm² and 2114.88 t/hm², respectively. There was no moss in Quercus cocciferoides, and the average MWHC of litters and soils at a depth of 0–40 cm at different elevation gradients was 84.55 t/hm² and 2062.83 t/hm², respectively. The biomass and MWHC of the moss layer in R. przewalskii shrub significantly decreased with increasing elevation, whereas the reverse occurred in Q. aquifolioides before the maximum was reached at 3400 m, and then the SCM and MWHC decreased. MWHR of the moss layer in R. przewalskii was higher than that in Q. aquifolioides. The biomass and MWHC of the litters in R. przewalskii and Q. aquifolioides decreased with increasing elevation, whereas the reverse occurred in Q. cocciferoide. Regardless of shrub types, soil bulk density increased significantly with increasing soil depth, whereas MWHC decreased significantly with increasing soil depth. Significant decrease in CWHC and LWHC were found only in certain shrub communities. The MWHC with respect to the 0–40cm soil depth significantly decreased with increasing elevation only in R. przewalskii shrub, whereas there was no significant difference in MWHCs among the different elevation gradients for the other two types.     

Corticular photosynthesis: A mechanism to enhance shrub expansion in coastal environments

Myrica cerifera L. (Myricaceae), the dominant woody species on many barrier islands along the southeastern coast of the United States, is expanding into grass-dominated, mesic, interdunal depressions where it forms dense thickets. Expansion may be attributed to a symbiotic nitrogen fixation with the bacterium Frankia, an evergreen leaf habit and, possibly, corticular photosynthesis (CP, i.e. refixation of respired CO₂, %ref). We quantified seasonal variations in CP characteristics in first through fifth order branches of M. cerifera to determine the extent and relevance of CP to shrub expansion in coastal environments. Maximum mean %ref was 110±39 % of CO₂ efflux in the dark (R _D) in first order branches during winter. Minimum %ref was 18±3 % in fifth order branches during summer. Variations in %ref paralleled changes in incident photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). As incident PPFD attenuated with increasing branch order, %ref decreased. A less dense canopy in winter led to increased PPFD and increases in %ref. Total chlorophyll (Chl) content and Chl a/b ratios were consistent with shade acclimation as branch order increased. CP may be a mechanism to enhance M. cerifera shrub expansion because of the potential increase in whole plant carbon use efficiency and water use efficiency attributed to refixation of respired CO₂.     

Recovery of Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Features in Wyoming Big Sagebrush following Prescribed Fire

The ability of prescribed fire to enhance habitat features for Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ) in Wyoming big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis ) in western North America is poorly understood. We evaluated recovery of habitat features important to wintering, nesting, and early brood-rearing Sage-Grouse in Wyoming big sagebrush following prescribed fire. Our case study included 1 year of preburn (1989) and 10 years of postburn data collected over 14 years (1990–2003) from control and burned study areas in the Big Desert of southeastern Idaho, U.S.A. We compared recovery and rate of change for 12 features in four categories between burned and control transects and recovery in burned transects including change in variation. Our results indicate that prescribed fire induced quantifiable changes in wintering, nesting, and early brood-rearing Sage-Grouse habitat features 14 years after fire in Wyoming big sagebrush in our study area. Specifically, grass and litter required by Sage-Grouse for nest and brood concealment recovered relatively rapidly following fire; major forb cover was similar between burned and control sites, but the rate of increase for major forb cover and richness was greater in control transects, and structurally mediated habitat features required by Sage-Grouse for food and cover in winter and for nest and brood concealment in spring recovered slowly following fire. Because shrub structural features in our study did not recover in magnitude or variability to preburn levels 14 years after fire, we recommend that managers avoid burning Wyoming big sagebrush to enhance Sage-Grouse habitat, but rather implement carefully planned treatments that maintain Sagebrush.     

京津风沙源区防风固沙功能对植被覆盖度变化的时空响应研究

防风固沙功能受气象、土壤、植被、土地利用等多种因素的影响,监测评估区域防风固沙功能对不同影响因子的响应状况可为生态保护工程的布局实施提供重要依据.以京津风沙源治理工程区为例,基于NDVI指数和RWEQ模型,构建了植被覆盖度与防风固沙功能的同步变化指数模型,评估分析了工程区防风固沙功能对植被覆盖度变化的响应水平及时空差异...     

31种木本植物开花物候与系统发育的关系

植物物候通常被认为是由环境因素,如降水、温度和日照长度所决定,然而环境因素是否是物候唯一的决定因素仍然存在很大争议。谱系结构表征了植物在进化上的顺序,该发育时序是否对物候产生影响,当前仍然未知。在调查2016年春季新疆乌鲁木齐市最常见的31种木本植物的初始开花时间、败花时间和开花持续时间的基础上,通过分析植物开花物候的分布特征、开花物候在乔灌木间的差别、以及植物谱系距离与开花物候距离间的关系,试图揭示植物的开花物候和物种谱系(进化)顺序间的关系。结果表明:(1)新疆乌鲁木齐市31种木本植物的初始开花时间为4月18日±9d、败花时间为5月5日±12d、开花持续时间为(16±8)d;(2)乔木的初始开花时间和败花时间的标准差分别均低于灌木,乔木开花物候相对灌木更稳定;(3)乔木的初始开花和败花时间均显著早于灌木(P0.05),但开花持续时间在两者间未有显著性差异(P0.05);(3)31种木本植物间的初始开花时间距离、败花时间距离和开花持续时间距离均与物种谱系距离存在显著线性回归关系(P0.05)。综上可知:乔灌木在垂直空间上的分化使得木本植物的开花物候在植物生活型间存在不同。对植物的开花物候,除已被证明的降水、温度和日照长度等环境因素的影响外,物种进化顺序也可能造成了它在植物种间、时间和空间上的变异。     

哈尔滨市瞬时热力场空间格局分析

应用遥感(TM图象)及地理信息系统(ArcView)技术,对哈尔滨市瞬时热力场空间格局现状进行多角度分析,将TM成像时哈尔滨市不同地表辐射温度地块分为3个温度等级：相对低辐射温度(<10℃)、相对中等辐射温度(10～22℃)和相对高辐射温度(22～31℃)地块,其中相对高辐射温度的地块数量最多,占61％;相对低辐射温度地块最少,仅占17％;相对中等辐射温度地块居中,占22％,在相对高辐射温度地块(22～31℃)中。大于28℃的相对过热辐射温度的地块为7018块,总面积达12252hm^2,且大小不均。最大斑块面积是1489hm^2,最小斑块面积为0．72hm^2在这些斑块中面积小于1hm^2的占95．02％,1～5hm^2占3．46％,而大于5hm^2的占1．52％,它们以热团、热环及碎片的形式分布,形成分布格局,团状复合体内平均辐射温度为30．8℃,它们主要出现在哈尔滨市的道外区、道里区西南部,热环复合体的平均辐射温度为27℃,它们沿哈尔滨市现存的两条铁路环线构成过高热辐射环带,碎片复合体内的平均辐射温度为24．7℃,以小于1hm^2的过高热辐射地块构成碎片形状,分布在南岗区和动力区,还分析了覆盖率、绿地面积及建筑容积因素与城市热力场空间格局的关系,提出了改善哈尔滨城市热岛效应的一些思路。     

盖度与冠层水深对沉水植物水盾草光谱特性的影响

遥感技术可应用于大尺度实时监测沉水植物的分布与生长状况。然而沉水植物的光谱特征受其冠层在水下深度的影响,从而影响湖泊和河流中沉水植物的遥感影像解译与信息提取。应用地物光谱仪,通过野外原位测定和室外控制试验,实测了沉水植物水盾草(Cabomba caroliniana)群落冠层在水下不同深度的反射光谱,分析了冠层水深对水盾草反射光谱的影响,并建立了基于光谱反射率和冠层水深的水盾草群落盖度反演模型。研究结果表明(1)不同盖度的水盾草群落光谱反射率的基本特征主要体现在绿光和近红外波段;(2)水盾草群落的光谱反射率与冠层水深基本呈负相关,相同盖度水盾草群落的光谱反射率随冠层水深的增加而减小,在近红外波段尤其明显;(3)水盾草群落冠层水深越小,其盖度与光谱反射率的相关性越强,且水盾草群落盖度越大,其光谱反射率与冠层水深的相关性越显著;(4)水盾草光谱反射率与盖度相关的最佳波段在692—898 nm,与冠层水深相关最佳的波段在710 nm和806 nm附近;(5)在710 nm和806 nm处建立的结合冠层水深的修正模型,无论是回归方程决定系数(R2),还是水盾草群落盖度的反演精度都明显高于仅用光谱反射率反演盖度的简单模型,因此可有效减除冠层水深对反演精度的影响。本研究的结果可为遥感监测沉水植物的分布和动态变化,以及沉水植物生物物理参量反演提供科学依据。     

俄罗斯平原针阔混交林群落的灌木层植物种间相关研究

灌木层植物种类丰富,成层明显,结构复杂是俄罗斯平原针阔混交林群落的突出特点,应用Ｘ＾２检验和Ｐｅａｒｓｏｎ相关系数ｒ公式研究了灌木层植物种间联结和相关性,对测定结果的生态学意义进行了分析,依据测定结果,将形成灌木层的植物划分为４个生态联结种组;俄罗斯金雀花＋璎珞柏,欧洲白蜡＋欧洲白榆,疣枝卫矛＋欧洲荚迷＋黄忍冬＋欧榛子＋黑茶镳子＋欧洲赤杨。生态种组的划分为整个群落的结构和动态研究及植被的恢复和重建     

岷江干旱河谷区典型灌木对干旱胁迫的生理生化响应

以岷江干旱河谷区6种典型山地灌木[沙棘(Hippophae rhamnoides)、羊蹄甲(Bauhinia faberi)、白刺花(Sorphora davidii)、锦鸡儿(Caragana arborescens)、三颗针(Berberis sargentiana)、黄栌(Cotinus szechuanensis)]为试材,采用盆栽试验研究了土壤自然干旱胁迫对苗木叶片抗氧化保护酶活性、膜伤害程度以及渗透调节物质的影响,探讨植物应对土壤干旱逐渐加剧的生理生态适应机理。结果表明,植物不同抗氧化保护酶对干旱胁迫及随之而来的氧化胁迫的响应存在一定差异。各灌木的超氧化物歧化酶随着干旱胁迫的增强呈先上升后下降,过氧化物酶在整个胁迫期间表现为逐渐升高,过氧化氢酶的升高则主要发生在胁迫的中后期,表明不同胁迫时期对植物体起主导作用的保护酶不同,三者表现为相互协调的作用方式。随着干旱胁迫的增强,各灌木的丙二醛呈缓慢增加趋势,细胞的膜脂过氧化作用逐渐加强,植物开始遭受一定程度的毒害。沙棘和羊蹄甲叶片的质膜相对透性随胁迫的增强呈现先升后降最终回到初始水平的特点,表明植物可以通过干旱锻炼获得一定的抗旱能力。白刺花和黄栌叶片的质膜相对透性在胁迫的0—4 d保持不变,从8 d开始大幅上升并一直维持在较高水平,说明胁迫初期植物细胞膜的结构和功能还很完整,生理活动仍能正常进行,但从中期开始细胞膜遭受严重破坏。随着干旱胁迫的增强,各灌木叶片的脯氨酸总体均呈增加趋势,表明干旱胁迫下植物通过积累脯氨酸以提高细胞的渗透调节能力。主成分分析表明,6种灌木的抗旱能力由强到弱依次为:羊蹄甲、沙棘、锦鸡儿、黄栌、白刺花、三颗针。综合分析表明,干旱河谷区几种典型灌木可通过提高抗氧化酶活性并积累渗透调节物质对干旱胁迫进行积极的反馈,以减弱逆境胁迫下活性氧的危害,提高细胞的渗透调节能力,减轻细胞遭受的损伤。     

塔里木河上游荒漠区4种灌木植物叶片与土壤生态化学计量特征

分析了塔里木河上游荒漠区灌木植物叶片和土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量特征以及二者之间的相关性,旨在阐明荒漠植被在极端环境下养分循环及限制状况,为塔里木河上游荒漠生态系统的恢复与保护提供理论依据。以塔里木河上游多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissma)、盐穗木(Halostachys caspica)、黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)、铃铛刺(Halimodendron halodendron)4种荒漠灌木植物叶片和土壤为研究对象,分析植物叶片和土壤C、N、P生态化学计量特征及其相关性。结果表明:在4种不同荒漠灌木植物叶片中柽柳叶片的C含量为(484.77±59.74)mg/g,显著高于其他灌木植物(P0.05);铃铛刺的N含量是(14.20±1.58)mg/g,显著高于其他灌木植物(P0.05);柽柳叶片的P含量为(0.54±0.16)mg/g,显著低于其他灌木植物(P0.05)。4种灌木植物叶片C/N比值大小为黑果枸杞柽柳铃铛刺盐穗木,且黑果枸杞的C/N比值显著最高为(37.83±7.74)(P0.05);C/P为柽柳铃铛刺盐穗木黑果枸杞,盐穗木和黑果枸杞的C/P显著低于其他灌木(P0.05),其比值分别为(379.76±158.63)和(383.47±128.95);N/P为柽柳铃铛刺盐穗木黑果枸杞,柽柳的N/P比值显著最高为(22.34±4.60)(P0.05)。4种不同荒漠灌木土壤的有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)含量及其化学计量比特征均未表现出显著的差异。由相关性分析可知柽柳叶片仅P含量与土壤TP含量呈现出显著正相关(P0.05);铃铛刺叶片C含量与土壤TN、叶片P含量与土壤TN/TP均呈显著负相关(P0.05),而叶片C含量与土壤TN/TP呈极显著负相关(P0.01);盐穗木和黑果枸杞叶片化学计量特征与土壤的化学计量特征均未表现出显著相关性(P0.05)。说明植物叶片化学计量特征并非是由土壤养分含量特征直接决定的,更多受植物自身遗传特性的影响,体现了荒漠灌木植物对极端生境的适应性。