Decomposition of emergent macrophyte roots and rhizomes in a northern prairie marsh

Dry mass, nitrogen and phosphorus content in belowground litter of four emergent macrophytes (Typha glauca Godr., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin., Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link and Scirpus lacustris L.) were followed for 1.2 years in a series of experimental marshes, Delta Marsh, Manitoba. Litter bags containing roots and rhizome materials of each species were buried in unflooded soil, or soil flooded at three water depths (1–30, 31–60, > 60 cm). There were few differences in dry mass loss in unflooded or flooded soils, and depth of flooding also had little effect on decomposition rates. In the flooded sites, Scolochloa and Phragmites roots lost more mass (48.9–63.8% and 59.2–85.5%, respectively) after 112 days than Typha and Scirpus (36.3–43.6 and 37.0–47.2%, respectively). These differences continued through to the end of the study, except in the shallow sites where Scirpus roots lost more mass and had comparable mass remaining as Scolochloa and Phragmites. In the unflooded sites, there was little difference between species. All litters lost nitrogen (22.9–90.0%) and phosphorus (46.3–92.7%) during the first 112 days, then levels tended to remain constant. Decay rates for our belowground root and rhizome litters were comparable to published literature values for aboveground shoot litter of the same species, except for Phragmites roots and rhizomes which decomposed at a faster rate (−k = 0.0014−0.0032) than shoots (−k = 0.0003−0.0007, [van der Valk, A.G., Rhymer, J.M., Murkin, H.R., 1991. Flooding and the decomposition of litter of four emergent plant species in a prairie wetland. Wetlands 11, 1–16]).

基于生态系统服务理论的草地可持续利用评价

草地退化不仅仅是今天中国才发生的事情。历史上曾经发生“黑尘暴”的美国North Dakota州，现在仍然有62.7％土地被用作耕作，林地所占面积仅仅占1％。私有制和种植业较畜牧业的高的利润率，是该州种植业比重高于畜牧业的重要原因。草原保护项目（CRP）得到了美国政府财政的大力支持， 在North Dakota州采用了以草地恢复为主的措施。美国发达的教育体系带来的高流动率，使得North Dakota州自30年代后居住人口稳定在60－70万成为可能，从而避免了我国出现的草原地区不断增加的人口压力。由此可见：草地作为重要的自然资源，不可能完全保护起来;没有其他配套措施，私有制可能会带来新一轮垦殖;草地畜牧业仍然是畜牧业的重要组成部分，畜牧业发展需要结合种植业尤其需要与饲料生产相结合。 依据生态系统服务的理念，首次发展了生态系统服务指数（ESI），试图通过对生态系统服务功能的综合考虑，提出科学的适宜放牧率的评价方法。本文利用美国北达科他州立大学中部草原研究站17年长期放牧试验数据，选取植物多样性Shannon-Wiener指数、地上净初级生产力、土壤表层含水量和单位面积家畜增重等四个指标，通过对不同指标分别赋予不同的权重，计算不同管理目标下ESI及其稳定性，并对单目标管理与多目标管理进行了比较研究。结果表明，对于北美混合普列里(Prairie)草地，围封不利用或建立自然保护区，虽然生态系统比较稳定，但既不能有效的提高植物多样性、初级生产力和土壤水分含量等生态功能，又没有畜产品产出;而在重牧或极重牧处理下虽然获得了较大的畜产品生产，但导致了草地生态系统的退化和较大的系统不稳定性。因此，这两种管理方式在实践中都是不可取的。应用生态系统服务指数综合考虑，认为应该权衡各项生态功能和生产功能，此时轻牧或中牧是最适宜的。因此，ESI的建立避免了单项指标的评价偏差，使得适宜放牧率的确定更加合理。 利用前面构建的多目标权重评价体系，结合内蒙古草原生态系统定位站放牧试验样地的数据，探讨了锡林郭勒盟定位站附近的适宜放牧率为2.67羊/ha，低于单目标条件下的每公顷绵羊4羊/ha。同时在经济学和生态系统系统服务理论的基础上，依据谢高地等人（2001年）的研究，并提出了环境税和生态补偿的标准，分别是每公顷15元和90元。

不同放牧率对不同草原主要植物叶片解剖结构和化学成分的影响

本文选取不同放牧率下的优势植物为研究对象，主要从植物解剖结构和化学成分方面，对内蒙古典型草原和北美混合普列里草原的放牧演替机制进行探讨，这将有助于进一步揭示放牧演替过程及其主要植物对放牧的适应机理。具体研究结果如下： 1. 长期不同放牧率的放牧（内蒙古典型草原区放牧15年和混合普列里草原放牧19年）对所有物种（IMGERS的羊草（Leymus chinensis）、冰草（Agropyron cristatum）、糙隐子草（Cleistogenes squarrosa）、扁蓿豆（Melissitus rutenica）、小叶锦鸡儿（Caragana microphylla）、冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）和星毛委陵菜（Potentilla acaulis）和CGREC的Artemisia frgida ，Poa pratensis， Agropyron smithii，Solidago rigida， Helianthus rigidus和Symphoricarpos occidentalis）叶片的角质层厚度、表皮细胞面积、叶肉细胞面积、栅栏/海绵组织厚度、叶片厚度、中脉厚度均产生显著影响;放牧显著影响了两个研究区不同生活型功能群植物叶片的角质层厚度、表皮细胞面积、叶肉面积、栅栏/海绵组织和中脉厚度。内蒙古典型草原研究区草本植物功能群的叶片下角质层厚度、栅栏/海绵组织厚度显著大于灌木功能群，而美国混合普列里草原研究区，草本植物功能群的叶片下角质层厚度、表皮细胞面积、叶肉细胞面积、栅栏/海绵组织厚度、叶片厚度、中脉厚度均显著大于灌木功能群。 2. 内蒙古典型草原研究区放牧率显著影响了糙隐子草和小叶锦鸡儿的比叶面积（SLA）;在美国混合普列里草原研究区，放牧率显著影响了冷蒿SLA。但对生活型功能群的SLA影响不显著。 3. 内蒙古典型草原研究区放牧对物种叶片叶绿素含量、纤维素含量影响显著，放牧仅显著增加了扁蓿豆叶片的含氮量。美国混合普列里草原研究区物种叶片的全碳、干物质、酸性洗涤纤维、叶绿素a+b含量受放牧率的显著影响。两研究区放牧率对叶片叶绿素a+b含量影响显著。放牧率也显著影响了不同生活型功能群的全碳含量和叶绿素a+b含量。 4. 两研究区叶片表皮细胞面积和叶肉细胞面积无牧和重牧下显著正相关，表皮细胞面积和叶片厚度在轻牧下显著正相关，叶肉细胞面积和叶片厚度在无牧、中牧和重牧下显著正相关，比叶面积和叶绿素a+b含量在轻牧下显著正相关。扁蓿豆叶片的表皮细胞面积和叶肉细胞面积间存在显著的正相关，其全碳含量和叶绿素a+b含量间存在显著的正相关;Artemisia frgida叶片的角质层厚度和叶片厚度间显著正相关，Poa pratensis叶片的角质层厚度和表皮细胞面积间显著负相关，Solidago rigida叶片表皮细胞面积和光合速率显著正相关。Helianthus rigidus叶片叶肉细胞面积和叶片厚度显著负相关。

黄土高原典型草原区草地土壤种子库的动态分析

采用野外调查取样和室内试验相结合的方法,研究了黄土高原典型草原区草地土壤种子库的物种组成、密度、时空格局和物种多样性等特征。结果表明,(1)土壤种子库中共统计到37个物种,隶属于16科,其中禾本科、菊科、唇形科、豆科和毛茛科的植物占优势。(2)从返青期到枯黄期,种子库中豆科、禾本科、堇菜科所占比例呈下降趋势,唇形科和菊科所占比例明显提高,种子库的密度也显著提高。(3)种子库中种子数量在垂直分布上呈现出由表层土壤向深层逐层减少的变化规律;在水平分布上的变化规律为:封禁>放牧;阴坡>阳坡;下坡>中坡>上坡。(4)封禁地土壤种子库中的Margalef丰富度和Shannon—Wienner指数都高于放牧地,Pielou均匀性指数低于放牧地。从返青期到枯黄期,封禁地和放牧地土壤种子库的Margalef丰富度、Shannon—Wienner指数、Pielou均匀性指数都呈下降趋势。

关于黄土丘陵典型地区植被建设中有关问题的研究Ⅰ、土壤水分状况及植被建设区划

根据植被调查和土壤水分调查资料 ,讨论了黄土丘陵典型地区的造林的水分条件和植被地带的划分。水分不足是造林的限制因子 ,在现有天然林及人工林中普遍存在土壤干层 ,所以 ,延安研究区南部应属干旱森林区 ,北部属森林草原区。并根据土壤水分现状和植被现状 ,进行了植被建设区划 ,其划分两个一级区和两个二级区

基于多目标权重分析的草地适宜放牧率探讨

依据生态系统服务的理念，首次发展了生态系统服务指数（ESI），试图通过对生态系统服务功能的综合考虑，提出科学的适宜放牧率的评价方法。本研究利用美国北达科他州立大学中部草原研究站17年长期放牧试验数据，选取植物多样性Shannon-Wiener指数、地上净初级生产力、土壤表层含水量和单位面积家畜增重4个指标，通过对不同指标分别赋予不同的权重，计算不同管理目标下ESI及其稳定性，并对单目标管理与多目标管理进行了比较研究。结果表明，对于北美混合普列里（Prairie）草地，围封不利用或建立自然保护区，虽然生态系统比较稳定，但既不能有效的提高植物多样性、初级生产力和土壤水分含量等生态功能，又没有畜产品产出；而在重牧或极重牧处理下虽然获得了较大的畜产品生产，但导致了草地生态系统的退化和较大的系统不稳定性。因此，这2种管理方式在实践中都是不可取的。应用生态系统服务指数综合考虑，认为应该权衡各项生态功能和生产功能，此时轻牧或中牧是最适宜的。因此，ESI的建立避免了单项指标的评价偏差，使得适宜放牧率的确定更加合理。

Long-term grazing alters species composition and biomass of a shrub meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Livestock grazing has long been the most widespread land use on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the world's highest ecosystems. However, there has been increasing concern during recent decades because of the rapid increase in livestock numbers. To assess the possible influences of grazing on the vast grassland, a long-term grazing experiment in a shrub meadow on the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was carried out. The experiment included five treatments with different stocking rates and one non-grazing (N) treatment. After 17 years of grazing, treatment differences were clear. The species composition differed markedly between grazing intensities, with a decrease in palatable grass species and an increase in unpalatable forbs at higher grazing intensities. The species richness and species diversity, however, were not significantly different between treatments. Vegetation height decreased significantly at higher grazing intensities. Total above,ground biomass declined considerably and the biomass of forbs increased significantly under the higher grazing intensities. The amount of litter was significantly lower under the higher grazing intensities. The results suggest that long-term grazing alters the species composition, vegetation height and biomass production of the alpine grassland ecosystem without significantly changing species richness.

Burrowing rodents as ecosystem engineers: the ecology and management of plateau zokors Myospalax fontanierii in alpine meadow ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau

1. Plateau zokors, Myospalax fontanierii, are the only subterranean herbivores on the Tibetan plateau of China. Although the population biology of plateau zokors has been studied for many years, the interactions between zokors and plants, especially for the maintenance and structure of ecological communities, have been poorly recognized. In the past, plateau zokors have been traditionally viewed as pests, competitors with cattle, and agents of soil erosion, thus eradication programmes have been carried out by local governments and farmers. Zokors are also widely and heavily exploited for their use in traditional Chinese medicine.2. Like other fossorial animals, such as pocket gophers Geomys spp. and prairie dogs Cynomys spp. in similar ecosystems, zokors may act to increase local environmental heterogeneity at the landscape level, aid in the formation, aeration and mixing of soil, and enhance infiltration of water into the soil thus curtailing erosion. The changes that zokors cause in the physical environment, vegetation and soil clearly affect the herbivore food web. Equally, plateau zokors also provide a significant food source for many avian and mammalian predators on the plateau. Zokor control leading to depletion of prey and secondary poisoning may therefore present problems for populations of numerous other animals.3. We highlight the important role plateau zokors play in the Tibetan plateau ecosystem. Plateau zokors should be managed in concert with other comprehensive rangeland treatments to ensure the ecological equilibrium and preservation of native biodiversity, as well as the long-term sustainable use of pastureland by domestic livestock.