Effects of cattle grazing on a ponderosa pine-bunchgrass range in Colorado

Replaces Effect of grazing intensity upon vegetation and cattle gains on ponderosa pine-bunchgrass ranges of the Front Range of Colorado, by W. M. Johnson, issued as U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Circular no. 929.

Potential soil carbon sequestration in overgrazed grassland ecosystems

Excessive grazing pressure is detrimental to plant productivity and may lead to declines in soil organic matter. Soil organic matter is an important source of plant nutrients and can enhance soil aggregation, limit soil erosion, and can also increase cation exchange and water holding capacities, and is, therefore, a key regulator of grassland ecosystem processes. Changes in grassland management which reverse the process of declining productivity can potentially lead to increased soil C. Thus, rehabilitation of areas degraded by overgrazing can potentially sequester atmospheric C. We compiled data from the literature to evaluate the influence of grazing intensity on soil C. Based on data contained within these studies, we ascertained a positive linear relationship between potential C sequestration and mean annual precipitation which we extrapolated to estimate global C sequestration potential with rehabilitation of overgrazed grassland. The GLASOD and IGBP DISCover data sets were integrated to generate a map of overgrazed grassland area for each of four severity classes on each continent. Our regression model predicted losses of soil C with decreased grazing intensity in drier areas (precipitation less than 333 mm yr(-1)), but substantial sequestration in wetter areas. Most (93%) C sequestration potential occurred in areas with MAP less than 1800 mm. Universal rehabilitation of overgrazed grasslands can sequester approximately 45 Tg C yr(-1), most of which can be achieved simply by cessation of overgrazing and implementation of moderate grazing intensity. Institutional level investments by governments may be required to sequester additional C.

松嫩平原盐碱化草地模拟模型研究

松嫩平原盐碱化草地是我国著名的天然草场，又是东北西部绿色生态屏障，具有较高的经济价值和重要的生态意义。但是由于各种自然因素和人为因素，致使草地出现退化、沙化和盐渍化，尤其是草地盐渍化加重，生态环境日趋恶化。当地地形条件和气候要素是导致草地原生盐碱化的主要原因。而人类对草地的过度使用，如过度放牧和割草等则是导致草地快速次生盐碱化的主要原因，不仅导致土壤的退化，而且引起草地群落发生次生演替过程。在典型的次生演替过程中，常常可以出现羊革(Aneurolepidium chinense)群落、羊草和一虎尾草(Aneurotepidium chinense＆Chloris virgata)群落、虎尾草(Chloris virgata)群落、碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)群落等演替阶段。 本文试图建立一个过程模型，来模拟草地的生态学过程机理以及人类过度放牧对草地生态系统的影响。本模型包括5个部分：1）主要气候因子的模拟，2)土壤水分动态的模拟，3）土壤盐碱化动态的模拟，4）草地群落生长的模拟，5)不同放牧强度对草地生态系统的影响评价。以下将对各个部分分别描述a 在气候因子模拟子模型中，给出了影响草地生态系统主要气候园子的种类，并重点介绍了如何利用解析法计算太阳辐射，包括平地和坡地的理论可照时间，天文辐射日总量以及总辐射量。利用改进后的Penman式，模拟了全国的潜在蒸散量，与900多个气象站点的水面蒸发观测资料进行了验证，模拟结果很好。 利用面向对象技术，将土壤水分动力学模型与水分平衡模型相结合，建立了土壤水分动态的物理过程模型。模型以ld为步长，可以模拟多种土壤质地的水分动态。利用松嫩平原4中典型土壤（碳酸盐草甸黑钙土、栗钙土、碱化盐土、草甸碱土）1997年土壤湿度观测资料对模型进行了验证，效果根理想。 在水盐平衡模型和动力学模型基础上建立了物理过程模型，来模拟土壤盐碱化动态。模型以ld为步长，适合于模拟异质性强的多层土壤水盐动态。模拟了1997年羊草及碱蓬群落下的土壤盐分、碱化度、pH值动态，并与实验资料进行了比较，模拟结果可以反映土壤盐分和碱化的季节变化规律。 模型将气候要素、土壤湿度、土壤盐分浓度、碱化度和pH值作为影响草地群落生长最重要的环境因子，在土壤水分动态和盐碱化动态模型基础上，建立了过程模型来模拟以羊草(A．chinense)、虎尾草(C.virgata)、星星草(Puccinellialenuiflora)和碱蓬(S. glauca)为建群种的4种植物群落的地上生物量、地下生物量以及枯死生物量变化动态。利用吉林省长岭的气候资料和实验资料，模拟了1991年土壤湿度动态，1991年4种群落土壤盐分、碱化度和pH值变化动态，以及1991年4种群落生长动态，并分另fj利用实验资料进行了验证，模拟效果非常理想。 在此基础上，利用模型对不同放牧强度对土壤水分动态、盐碱化动态的影响进行了评价，并探讨了对群落演替和生长的可能影响。模型选择不放牧、轻牧、重牧、过牧、极牧5种放牧强度，利用模型每15天将地上生物量分别去除0%. 25%、50%、75%和90%，并且相应改变了土壤导水特性来模拟不同的放牧强度。模拟结果表明，重牧、过牧、极牧下土壤湿度显著降低，但在轻牧下土壤温度略有上升。在不放牧时，土壤以脱盐、脱碱过程为主，而轻牧下脱盐、脱碱过程则会变缓：重牧、过牧、极牧下则以盐碱化为主。．不放牧时羊草群落一直占优势，而轻牧下则被羊草一虎尾草群落替代：虎尾草可以忍受轻的盐碱，因此在重牧F取代羊草群落成为优势种;在过牧和极牧下，土壤盐碱化非常迅速，最终只有碱蓬可以忍受强度的盐碱，这时草地变为碱蓬群落或光碱斑。不放牧下草地群落生长良好，生物量最大;轻牧下，草地群落生物量保持在中等水平;而重牧、过牧、极牧下草地生物量迅速减少。通过将每年收割的生物量进行累加，可以发现轻牧下收获的生物量总量是最大的，随着放牧强度的增加，收获的生物量迅速减少，如果同时考虑到适口性的问题，则可以发现轻牧下可 以收获最多的生物量，而过牧和极牧下只能收获极少的适口性非常差的碱蓬。 模拟结果表明，过牧是导致松嫩草地次生盐碱化最重要的原因，它不仅造成草地土壤的退化，而且加速了草地群落的次生演替。适宜的放牧强度对于保护草地免受退化，保持较高的草地生产力水平至关重要。而过牧不仅降低了草地的生产力，而且严重破坏了草地环境，引起草地的迅速退化。

家畜放牧对典型草原土壤-植被系统氮素转化的影响

草地生态系统中，放牧对调节物质流动和营养循环起着关键的作用。内蒙古地区已有上千年的游牧历史，放牧是该地区重要的草地利用方式之一。然而，近50年来，由于人口的剧增以及对草原的不合理利用与管理，使得内蒙古草原发生了严重的退化与沙漠化。理解放牧对氮循环的定量影响，对我们更合理地利用草地、防治生态系统的进一步退化以及探求最佳恢复途径都具有重要的意义。中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位站精准设置的5种放牧强度处理（0.00, 1.33, 2.67, 4.00, 5.33 羊/公顷）为我们的研究提供了理想的平台。2005、2006年生长季期间，在经过16年不同放牧强度处理的一个典型草原样地上，我们测定了氮素输入（氮沉降、生物固氮）、转化（净氮矿化）、输出（反硝化及氨气挥发）速率等N循环的重要参量。同时，测定了微生物生物量碳、氮（Cmic，Nmic）及微生物呼吸（Rmic），研究了微生物在氮循环中的作用。另外，还测定了植物、土壤、固氮体中的15N自然丰度值，探讨了其对不同放牧强度的响应格局与机理。 结果表明，干湿混合沉降物全氮浓度最高达11.53 mg N l–1，沉降量最高为1.77 kg N ha–1m–1。月均氮沉降量与浓度正相关，它们与降水量均关系密切，前者更密切。结皮面积所占比例很小，不超过8%。结皮含氮量为1.01-1.43 g N kg–1，受放牧的影响不显著，但随放牧强度的增加有降低的趋势。土壤结皮能固氮，但固氮量不超过土壤氮含量的1倍。地耳的固氮量为结皮的10-20倍，故是主要的固氮体。尽管地耳含氮量受放牧影响不显著，但放牧是不放牧条件下地耳氮含量的1.58倍。 土壤NH4+-N浓度随季节变化范围为1.71-9.45 µg N g–1，它们在各放牧处理之间的差异不显著。土壤NO3–-N浓度变幅为0.27-11.21 µg N g–1。总无机氮浓度在不放牧条件下的变幅为2.69-14.57 µg N g–1，占总氮的0.49-2.6%;放牧条件下的变幅为2.49-8.66 µg N g–1，占总氮的0.35-1.21%。总无机氮浓度随季节和放牧强度的变化趋势与硝态氮相似，表现为2005年夏季期间有逐渐增加的趋势，而在2006年整个生长季期间有逐渐降低的趋势。不放牧比放牧条件下含氮量高，但在4个放牧处理之间的差异不显著。净氮矿化速率的变幅为–0.61-0.27 µg N g–1d–1，峰值通常出现在7月。净氮矿化速率在各处理间没有一致性差异，但中牧（2.67、4.00 羊/公顷）通常比重牧（5.33 羊/公顷）下的值高。净氮硝化速率通常很低，波动在–0.32-0.16 µg N g–1之间，2005年夏季及2006年春秋季的值相对较高。净氮硝化速率在各放牧处理之间差异不显著，但重牧条件下的值通常最低。累积净氮转化量在年际间差异大，2005年总体上遵循正态分布模式，而2006年随着放牧强度的增加有直线下降的趋势，2006年比2005年的累积量高。土壤温度和湿度比放牧强度对净氮矿化的影响更加显著。放牧强度通过调节这两个土壤因子对氮动态而产生间接影响。 反硝化和N2O的释放速率低，前者变幅为0.33-6.21µg N kg–1 d–1，后者为0.42-11.28 µg N kg–1 d–1。释放量夏季较强，春秋较弱。放牧对反硝化释放影响不显著，只在2005年对N2O释放影响显著。尽管如此，反硝化和N2O释放速率整体表现出在不放牧比放牧条件下高的趋势，且比最高放牧强度5.33 羊/公顷下的反硝化速率显著高。然而，它们在4个放牧处理之间的差异始终不显著。累积反硝化和N2O释放存在年际变化，2006年的值显著高。它们随着放牧强度的递增有逐渐降低的趋势，这在2006年表现得尤为明显，这种结果主要归因于土壤总氮量在长期放牧条件下随放牧压力的增加而逐渐降低。 氨气挥发速率变幅为0.88-3.52 g N ha–1d–1，高峰值出现在5月，2005比2006年同期的速率大。两年间放牧强度对氨气挥发的影响都较弱，2005年影响更弱。不放牧条件下的氨气挥发量通常最低，这在生长季的前期表现得更为明显，中牧及重牧条件下通常最高。放牧能影响氨气挥发与氨态氮，硝态氮及总无机氮浓度之间的关系，即不放牧条件下相关性显著，而放牧条件下相关性不显著。年际间氨气挥发速率与无机氮浓度之间的关系趋势相反，2005年负相关，2006年正相关。在水分充足的2006年，所有处理条件下氨气挥发与土壤水分及温度之间显著相关，但在单独每个放牧处理下，相关性不显著。 Cmic变幅大，为13.97-350.45 μg C g–1，占土壤总有机碳的1.58-8.35%。最高和最低值分别出现在夏季和春季。它们在各处理间差异不显著，不放牧下的值相对偏高。Cmic与土壤有机C和全N、前期的立枯、凋落量及含N量、优势种前期的地上生物量、根系生物量、土壤温度以及水分之间关系密切。氮素状态如氨态氮、总无机氮含量、反硝化以及N2O释放速率，氨气挥发速率与Cmic之间关系密切。Nmic占土壤全氮的0.41-2.74%，不受季节和放牧强度的显著影响。Nmic与可溶性N，表土层根系全N，立枯有机C，地上生物量之间关系密切。氮循环过程中氨气挥发速率受Nmic的影响。Rmic随季节而变化，通常5月份值最高。Rmic随着放牧强度的增加有稍降低的趋势。Rmic与土壤可溶性C、有机C，不同土层根系有机C，凋落物、立枯量及其C、N含量、全N，地上生物量，优势种前期的生物量，土壤温度之间关系密切。土壤氮循环动态如氨态氮、硝态氮、总无机氮浓度及反硝化速率与Rmic之间关系密切。 土壤、植物、地耳、生物结皮的δ15N值与放牧强度之间相关关系不显著。然而，放牧有增加表层土和植物的δ15N值而降低表土、地耳、结皮的δ15N值的趋势。表层土δ15N值与前一年生长季末期硝态氮及总无机氮浓度，反硝化速率及累积氨气挥发之间密切相关。 土壤碳含量的变幅为10.44-17.19 g C kg–1，全氮量的变幅为0.54-0.82 g N kg–1。长期的高强度放牧降低了土壤碳、氮储量。根系碳、氮含量分别为土壤碳、氮含量的40-50和10倍。立枯和凋落物有机碳含量变幅为446.94-507.01 g C kg–1，与放牧强度之间关系不密切;氮含量变幅为4.58-7.18 g N kg–1，与放牧强度之间显著负相关。优势种木地肤、冷蒿的含碳量与放牧强度之间相关不显著，但含氮量与之显著相关。 综述以上结果，不同放牧强度对内蒙草地生态系统氮循环中不同过程产生影响的程度各不相同，这种影响主要是通过它与土壤环境因子如温度、水分的联合作用而间接产生。

青藏高原东部混农季节性放牧及其对高山林线格局的影响

混农季节性放牧（agropastoral transhumance）通过作物种植和畜牧生产相结合的方式对不同海拔高度带上的资源进行相互补充利用，在亚洲兴都库什地区、青藏高原、横断山、东部及南部非洲、南美安第斯地区等具有悠久的历史。这种传统的生计系统几千年以来一直是居住在该地区的人类社会和自然生态系统相互作用的主要形式之一。这种传统的资源利用方式与山地自然植被以及特殊的山地人类文化和社会特征具有密切的协同演变关系。认识和理解这一关系，是山地生态学和人类学的核心科学问题之一。近年来，山地生态系统的多重功能性及动态演变对山区社会经济可持续发展的重要意义受到人们的不断关注。本文通过对云南省德钦县的12个自然村的混农季节性放牧以及对云南德钦、四川壤塘等山地植被格局特别是高海拔地带植被格局的的详细调查，探讨青藏高原东缘地区混农季节性放牧的主要特征、系统构成及相互关系，及其在全球变化、经济全球化和市场化及现代化过程中的变化趋势，分析混农季节性放牧与高山林线格局及生态系统的互动关系，旨在探讨山地地区人类活动与自然生态系统之间的互动关系，从而为山区社会经济可持续发展、环境建设和生物多样性保护等国家战略提供理论依据。 调查结果表明，混农季节性放牧是一种适应青藏高原东部高山峡谷地区环境因子及自然资源呈明显的垂直分布、资源数量稀少而时空分布异质性极高的生存环境的一种传统经济形式。这种传统的畜牧业的主要生产目的仍然是提供当地基本生存所需的产品，饲养牲口的种类和数量取决于农户的当地需求并且受资源的限制，因而维持在比较低的水平的。分布在不同海拔高度的放牧资源在一年中被牲口利用的时间也不同，互为补充，共同构成混农季节性放牧的资源基础。根据各社区永久居住点的位置和该村的土地资源特别是牧草地资源的分布范围，牲口迁移的距离和格局有较大的差异。。天然牧场仍然是最主要的畜牧业生产资源。混农季节性放牧中的农业系统和牧业系统互为补充，共同构成调查地区完整的的生计系统，农耕活动为放牧活动提供精饲料如粮食等和冬季饲料如秸秆， 其数量往往成为家庭畜牧业生产规模的主要决定因子之一。 通过对牲口数量和结构、牲口的时空迁移格局、牧业活动在整个经济活动中的相对重要性以及牧业活动和作物种植的关系方面的研究分析，混农季节性放牧在近几十年发生了深刻的变化。主要表现在牲口数量总体下降，牲口组成发生变化，牲口移动性降低、牧业活动的经济重要性下降以及牧业活动和种植活动之间的相互依存度降低等。上述变化的根本驱动力是发生在当地、地区及全球尺度上的环境、政治、社会经济、技术和文化等的变化，从而造成当地群众畜牧生产目标、土地利用和劳动力的分布等发生了变化。当地生计系统发生的改变可能会带来对方面而深刻的政治、社会经济、文化和生态影响。 混农季节性放牧这种古老的传统生计策略面临着许多挑战，如冬季饲料短缺、草场退化、缺乏市场竞争力、经济重要性降低、对年轻人缺乏吸引力、国家缺乏专门的政策指导等。与此同时，经济全球化、市场经济、新技术的应用、替代生计机会的增加、国家对于山地生态系统的作用的重新定位等也为传统生计系统转型、实现社会与生态共赢创造了机遇。 混农季节性放牧活动对亚高山及树线交错带生态系统系统的互动方式主要体现在以下几个方面：（1）牲口啃食、践踏等影响森林群落更新，改变森林群落的组成和结构，从而影响森林群落的演替进程和植被格局。林线边缘是搭建夏棚的首选地点，因此林线及树线交错地带就成了牲口活动的主要场所之一；（2）利用火烧开辟、维持和改良高山牧场； 3）在亚高山火灾迹地的放牧活动能够阻止火烧迹地的顺向演替； 4）牧民在林线附近获取建材和薪材等活动影响高山林线附近森林的结构和功能。 在调查区域，梅里雪山、白马雪山、甲午雪山的林线海拔高度在4200-4300m之间； 四川雅江、理塘一线，林线位置多在4300-4400m；四川壤塘二林场一带的林线主体在4100-4200m，在个别地区达到4300m； 在贡嘎山的南坡和东坡一带，林线位置在3600-3700m；而在四川松潘一带，林线位置主体在3700-3800米左右。树线高度的分布趋势和林线一致。混农季节性放牧及其有关人类利用活动使研究地区很多地方高山林线降低、树线交错带宽变窄或消失。在研究地区，总体情况是，阳坡和半阳坡（南坡、西南坡等）的林线和树线比阴坡和半阴坡（北坡、东北坡等）低，变化幅度达20-200m。这种差异主要是为了开辟牧场而人为清除了南向坡自然林线及其以上的植被从而使林线位置下降所致。在南坡自然林线保留得比较好的地方，林线和树线依然可以达到甚至超过北坡林线和树线的高度。放牧活动抑制了高山林线带火烧迹地的天然更新，从而使林线位置保持在目前的位置。 放牧活动对高山林线带森林群落更新的影响是显著的。自然林线内的乔木个体密度特别是新生苗和幼苗的密度大大高于非自然林线。没有放牧的自然林线及树线交错带内的I级个体（新生苗）密度达到725-2917株/公顷，而与之相对的处理样地内I级个体的密度只有0-228株/公顷；II级个体（高度10-50cm）也表现出类似的趋势，在没有放牧的自然林线及树线交错带样方内，其密度达到550-5208株/，而在放牧处理样方内只有14-321株/公顷。在非自然林线带样地内，在有正常放牧的样地内，完全缺乏I级个体。 从相对比例来看，没有放牧的样方内的I、II级个体在全部个体中所占的比例显著高于有放牧活动的样方。放牧使林线交错带的乔木幼苗数量显著减少，从而影响林线及树线交错带森林群落的天然更新过程。林线和树线交错带的灌木对乔木幼苗具有重要的保护作用，能够为树线树种如冷杉等幼苗的定居体提供有利的微气候环境，同时保护苗免受牲口的啃食和践踏。火烧以后接着进行放牧能够100%地抑制高山林线带的幼苗更新。 高山牧场放牧强度降低、使用时间缩短而低海拔地带放牧强度增加是研究地区混农季节性放牧系统的一个显著变化。这种变化也必然会引起各海拔带上的生态系统的变化。放牧强度的降低、生产性用火的停止将导致原来通过人工火烧而降低并通过进一步的火烧和放牧活动来维持的林线及其以上地带的灌木盖度和高度的增加，从而为林线森林群落的扩张创造条件。 青藏高原东部高山峡谷地区是我国重要的山地生态系统，在我国的生物多样性保护、生态环境建设、社会经济可持续发展战略中具有举足轻重的作用。正确认识人类特别是当地传统的生计系统与生态环境系统的互动关系是实现上述战略目标的前提。决策者必须以综合、系统的的视角协调促进社会经济可持续发展、保护生物及文化多样性和维持人、牲口和生态系统之间的平衡的多重目标。 Agropastoral transhumance, which makes a complementary exploitation of the natural resources at different altitudinal belts through a combination of migratory animal husbandry and crop cultivation, has a long history in Hindu-Kush Himalaya, Tibet Plateau, Hengduan Ranges, eastern and southern Africa and the Andes region of south America.For millennia, this traditional livelihood strategy has been one of the main forms of interaction between human societies inhabiting in these regions and their natural ecocystems. A close co-evolutionary relationship has been developed between this indigenous resources management systems and the mountain vegetation systems on the one hand and a unique set of cultural values and social features on the other. Understanding this relationship has been one of the core scientific issues in mountain ecology and anthropology. In recent years, the importance of the multiple functions of the mountain ecosystems and their dynamic changes in the sustainable socio-economic development of the mountain regions has gained increasing attention. This paper, which is based on a detailed study on the agropastoral practices of the 12 natural villages in Deqin County of Yunnan, and the mountainnn vegetation patterns in Deqin of Yunnan and Rangtang County of Sichuan, intends to reveal the major characteristics, system composition and the inter-relations of the subsystems of the agropastoral transhumance in Eastern Tibetan Plateau as well as the trends of changes of the system within the context of global changes, economic globalization and modernity process of China and analyze the relations between agropastoral transhumance and alpine ecosystem, ao as to understand the interactions between human activities and natural ecosystems of the mountains and provide theoretical basis for the national strategies in eocioeconomic development, environmental reconstruction and biodiversity conservation in the mountain regions. Results of the survey indicate that agropastoral transhumance in the investigated area is a traditional economic form that is highly adapted to the eastern Tibet Plateau where the topography features high peaks and deep gorges and where the highly variable environmental parameters and scanty natural resources exhibit a distinct vertical spectrum of distribution and great temporal and spatial heterogeneity. The main objective of pastoral management is still aimed at the production of basic goods and services of local people and thus the type and size of animals raised for each household mainly depend on local needs and are limited by the availability of natural resources. The scale of production is relatively low. Pastoral resources at different altidudinal belts are complementarily used at different seasons of a year and thus form the resources basis for agropastoral production of the study area. Migration distances and patterns vary with the location of the permanent settlements, the elevational distribution range of the resources of the villages concerned. Natural pastures (rangelands) are the main fodder resources and sumplement feedings only account for less than 5% of the total fodder consumption. Crop cultivation and pastoral activities support each other to form a complete livelihood system. The ability of the farmig lands (crop cultivation) to provide the pastoral activities with concentrates and sumplements often becomes a main factor limiting the scale of livestock production at household level. Agropastoral transhumance is experiencing drastic changes in recent decades as is reflected in the size and composition of animals, the seasonal migration pattern, the relative importance of pastoralism in the household economy and the interplays of agricultural and pastoral elements of the system. In general, there is a decline in animal population and mobility, a shift in animal composition to meet new needs arising from changed macro-economic situation, a decrease in the relative importance in the household economy and an increasing decoupling of agro&pastoral relations. The fundamental divers of these changes can be traced to environmental, social, economic, technological and cultural changes from local to global levels and such changes have further caused local changes in livestock management objectives, land use and distribution of labor forces. Changes in local livelihood systems could have profound political, socioeconomic, cultural and ecological conseuquences. Agropastoral transhumance, as an age-old traditional livelihood strategy, is facing multifacet challenges, such as winter fodder shortage, rangeland degradation, lack of market competitiveness, decrease in economic importance, lack of appreciation among the young generation and adequate policies from the government. At the same time, economic globalization, market economy, intrdoctution of new technologies, increase of alternative income generating opportunities and the national re-oreitation of policies on mountain ecosystems have all brought about new opportunities for the transformation of the traditional livelihood system and the synchronized development of local society and the environment. Agropastoral transhumance interacts with the ecosystems at the timberline and treeline ecotone mainly through the following aspects: 1)Animal browsing and stamping affect the regeneration process of the forest communities and alters the composition and structure of the forest which in turn affect the succession process and vegetation pattern of the forest communities. Forest edges are the priority locations for summer houses and therefore the timeline and treeline area becomes the major venues of aninal activities; （2）herders create, maintain and improve pastures through burning that remove the forest communities at the timeline and treeline ecotone; 3）immediate grazing on the fire sites can significantly prevent the fire sites from perogressive succession; and 4）herders harvesting of construction timber and firewoods affects the structure and functions of the forest communities at the timberline and treeline zone. Timberline position in the survey region shows geographical variations. It is around 4200-4300m in Meilixueshan, Baimaxueshan and Jiawuxueshan in Northwest of Yunnan and rises to 4300-4400m in Yajiang County and Litang County of Sichuan. In Rangtang of Sichuan, it is between 4100-4200m, though reaching 4300m in localized sites. In the southern and eastern slopes of Gongga Mountain, the timberline is only between 3600m and 3700m and in Songpan County at the upper reach of the Minjiang River the timberline is around 3700-3800m.Treeline pattern follows similar trend. In many places, agropastoral transhumance and related human activities have lowered the timberline and treeline and narrowed or removed the treeline ecotone. In the area of survey, generally speaking, timberlines and treelines are lower on the southern slopes than on the northern slopes, with a difference between 20 and 200m. This is mainly because that the use of fires to crerate pastures has removed the forest vegetation at the previous timberline and above. In fact, in many places, well-preserved forests on the south slopes have even high timberline position that the corresponding northern slopes. At subalpine zone, grazing activities could have prohibited the natural regeneration of many forest fire sites and maintained the forest position at the present level. Grazing has a significant impact on the regernation process of forest communities at the timberline zone. Natural timberline and treeline ecotone has much higher density of treeline species individuals especially the emergents and seedlings than the timberlines that are maintained by human activities. In natural timberline and treelien ecotone without grazing interference, the density of the I Class seedlings (less than 10cm in height) ranges 725-2917 /hm2; while that in the treatment plots (with grazing disturbance) is only 0-228//hm2；II Class seedlings (10-50cm）exhibit similar density trends, reaching 550-5208//hm2 in natural timberline without grazing but only 14-321//hm2 in the plots with grazing treatment. In the man-created timberlines, there is no I Class seedling at all in plots with normal grazing activities. In relative terms, in plots without grazing activities, the propotion of I Class and II Class seedlings is much higher than that in plots with grazing. Grazing activities have significantly reduced the number of seedlings in the timberline ane treeline ecotone, and thus affect the natural regeneration process of the forests. Shrubs at the timberline and treeline ecotone can effectively protect the seedlings from severe climate and animal tramping, thus increasing the survival rate of the seedlings. Grazing following fires can completely inhibit forest regeneration process at timberline. Changes in agropastoral transhumance will have great impact on the timberline and treeline pattern of the studied area. The decrease in grazing intensity on alpine pastrues and the cessation of the use of fires will result an increase in the cover and height of shrubs above the present human-maintained treeline, which will create further condition for the expansion of timberline forest communities. Eastern Tibet Plateau harbors some most important mountain ecosystems of China that are of vital importance to the country’s strategy in biodiversity conservation, environmental construction and sustainable sociaoeconomic development. A proper knowledge of the interactions between traditional livelihood systems and the ecosystems in the region is a precondition to the realization of the above strategic goals. Therefore, the decision-makers must have a holistic and systemic perspective so as to integrate the multiple objectives of promoting sustainable socioeconomic development, conserving biological and cultural diversity and maintaining the balances among people, animal population and the ecosystems.

不同放牧强度下高山草甸生态系统碳氮分布格局和循环过程研究

本研究针对川西北高山草甸缺乏科学管理，过度放牧导致草场退化，并由此引发的一系列生态环境问题，选取红原县瓦切乡1996 年草地承包后形成的四个放牧强度草场，即不放牧、轻度（1.2 头牦牛hm-1）、中度（2.0 头牦牛hm-1）和重度放牧（2.9 头牦牛hm-1），作为研究对象，研究了不同放牧强度对草地植物-土壤系统中碳、氮这两个最基本物质的分布格局和循环过程的影响，并探讨了放牧干扰下高山草甸生态系统的管理。 1．放牧对草地植物群落物种组成，尤其是优势种，产生了明显的影响。不放牧、轻度、中度和重度放牧草地群落物种数分别为22，23，26，20 种，群落盖度分别是不放牧96.2%＞中度93.6%＞轻度89.7%＞重度73.6%。随放牧强度的增加， 原植物群落中的优势种垂穗鹅冠草（ Roegneria nutans ）、发草（Deschampsia caespitosa）和垂穗披碱草（Elymus nutans）等禾草逐渐被莎草科的川嵩草（Kobresia setchwanensis）和高山嵩草（Kobresia pygmaea）所取代成为优势种。同时，随放牧强度的增加，高原毛茛（Ranunculus brotherusii）、狼毒（Stellera chamaejasme）、鹅绒委陵菜（Potentilla anserina）和车前（Plantagodepressa）等杂类草的数量也随之增加。 2．生长季6～9 月份，草地植物地上和地下生物量（0～30cm）都是从6 月份开始增长，8 月份达到最高值，9 月份开始下降。每个月份，通常地上生物量以不放牧为最高，重度放牧总是显著小于不放牧；地下生物量随放牧强度的增加表现为增加的趋势，通常重度和中度放牧显著高于不放牧和轻度放牧草地。不放牧、轻度、中度和重度放牧草地6～9 月份4 个月的植物总生物量平均值分别是1543、1622、2295 和2449 g m-2，但随放牧强度的增加越来越来多的生物量被分配到了地下部分，地下生物量占总生物量比例的大小顺序分别是重度88%＞中度82%＞轻度76%＞不放牧69%。生物量这种变化主要是由于放牧使得群落优势种发生改变而引起的，其分配比例的变化体现了草地植物对放牧干扰的适应策略。 3．植物碳氮贮量的季节变化类似与生物量的变化。每个月份，不同放牧强度间植物地上碳氮的贮量有所不同，一般重度放牧会显著减少植物地上碳氮贮量。植物根系(0～30cm)碳氮贮量随放牧强度的增加表现为增加的趋势，通常重度和中度放牧显著高于不放牧和轻度放牧草地。不放牧、轻度、中度和重度放牧草地6～9 月份4 个月的植物总碳平均值分别是547、586、847 和909 g m-2，根系碳贮量占植物总碳的比例大小顺序分别是重度88%＞中度82%＞轻度76%＞不放牧69%；放牧、轻度、中度和重度放牧草地6～9 月份4 个月的植物总氮平均值分别是17、17、23 和26 g m-2，根系氮贮量占植物总氮的比例大小顺序分别是重度79%＞轻度71%＞中度70%＞不放牧65%。 4. 土壤有机碳贮量（0～30cm）的季节变化表现为7 月份略有下降，8 月开始增加，9 月份达到的最大值。土壤氮贮量的季节变化表现为随季节的推移逐渐增加的趋势。增加的放牧强度不同程度的增加土壤有机碳氮的贮量。不放牧、轻度、中度和重度放牧6～9 月份4 个月的土壤有机碳贮量的平均值分别是9.72、10.36、10.62 和11.74 kg m-2，土壤氮贮量分别为1.45、1.56、1.66 和1.83 kg m-2。土壤中有机碳（氮）的贮量都占到了植物-土壤系统有机碳（氮）的90%以上，但不同放牧强度之间的差异不明显。 5. 土壤氮的总硝化和反硝化，温室气体N2O 和CO2 的释放率的季节变化表现为从6 月份开始增加，7 月份达到最大值，8 月份开始下降，9 月份降为最小值。增加的放牧强度趋向于增加土壤氮的总硝化和反硝化作用，温室气体N2O和CO2 的释放率，通常情况下，中度放牧和重度放牧显著地加强了这些过程。 6．垂穗鹅冠草（Roegneria nutans）和川嵩草（Kobresia setchwanensis）凋落物在不同放牧强度下经过1 年的分解，两种凋落物的失重率及其碳氮的损失率3都随放牧增加表现为增加的趋势。在同一放牧强度下，川嵩草凋落物的失重率和碳氮的损失率都高于垂穗鹅冠草凋落物。 7. 尽管重度放牧显著增加了土壤碳氮的贮量，但同时也显著降低了植被群落盖度，降低了植物地上生物量，因此，久而久之会减少植物向土壤中的碳氮归还率；与不放牧和轻度放牧相比，重度放牧又显著增加了土壤CO2 和NO2 的排放量，这是草地生态系统碳氮损失的重要途径。由此可见，对于这些地处青藏高原的非常脆弱的高山草甸生态系统，长期重度放牧不仅导致植物生产力降低，而且将导致草地生态系统退化，甚至造成土壤中碳氮含量减少。 Long-term overgrazing has resulted in considerable deterioration in alpine meadowof the northwest Sichan Province. In order to explore management strategies for thesustainability of these alpine meadows, we selected four grasslands with differentgrazing intensity (no grazing-NG: 0, light grazing-LG: 1.2, moderate grazing-MG: 2.0,and heavy grazing-HG: 2.9 yaks ha-1) to evaluate carbon, nitrogen pools and cyclingprocesses within the plant-soil system in Waqie Village, Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province. 1. Grazing obviously changed the plant species composition, especially ondominant plant species. Total number of species is 22, 23, 26, and 20 for NG, LG, MGand HG, respectively. Vegetation coverage under different grazing intensity ranked inthe order of 96.2% for HG＞93.6% for MG＞89.7% for LG＞73.6% for NG. Thedominator of HG community shifted from grasses-Roegneria nutans andDeschampsia caespitosa dominated in the NG and LG sites into sedges-Kobresiapygmaea and K. setchwanensis. At the same time, with the increase of grazingintensity, the numbers of forbs, such as Ranunculus brotherusii, Stellera chamaejasme,Potentilla anserine and Plantago depressa, increased with grazing intensity. 2. Over the growing season, aboveground and belowground biomass showed a 5single peak pattern with the highest biomass in August. For each month, abovegroundbiomass usually was the highest in the NG site and lowest in the HG site.Belowground biomass showed a trend of increase as grazing intensity increased and itwas significantly higher in the HG and MG site than in the NG and LG sites. Totalplant biomass averaged over the growing season is 1543, 1622, 2295 and 2449 g m-2for NG, LG, MG and HG, respectively. The proportion of biomass to total plantbiomass for NG, LG, MG and HG is 88%, 82%, 76% and 69%, respectively. Higherallocation ratio for is an adaptive response of plant to grazing. 3. Carbon and nitrogen storage in plant components followed the similar seasonalpatterns as their biomass under different grazing intensities. Generally, heavy grazingsignificantly decreases aboveground biomass carbon and nitrogen compared to nograzing. Carbon and nitrogen storage in root tended to increase as grazing increasedand they are significantly higher in the HG and MG sites compared to the LG and NGsite. Total Carbon storage in plant system averaged over the growing season is 547,586, 847 and 909 g m-2 for NG, LG, MG and HG, respectively, while 17, 17, 23 and 26g m-2 for nitrogen. The proportion of carbon storage in root to total plant carbon forNG, LG, MG and HG is 88%, 82%, 76%, 69%, respectively, while 65%, 71%, 70%and 79% for nitrogen. 4. Carbon storage in soil (0-30cm) decreased slightly in July, then increased inAugust and peaked in September. Nitrogen storage in soil tended to increase withseason and grazing intensity. Total Carbon storage in soil averaged over the growingseason is 9.72, 10.36, 10.62 and11.74 kg m-2 for NG, LG, MG and HG, respectively,while 1.45, 1.56, 1.66 and 1.83 for nitrogen. The proportion of carbon (nitrogen)storage in soil to plant-soil system carbon (nitrogen) storage for NG, LG, MG and HGis more than 90%, which is not markedly different among different grazing intensities. 5. Gross nitrification, denitrification, CO2 and N2O flux rates in soil increasedfrom June to July and then declined until September, all of which tended to increasewith the increase of grazing intensity. Generally, heavy and moderate grazing intensitysignificantly enhanced these process compared to no and light grazing intensity. 6. After decomposing in situ for a year, relative weight, carbon and nitrogen loss in the litter of Roegneria nutans and Kobresia setchwanensis tended to increase asgrazing intensity increased. Under the same grazing intensity, relative weight, carbonand nitrogen loss in the litter of Kobresia setchwanensis were higher than these in thelitter of Roegneria nutans. 7. Although heavy grazing intensity resulted in higher levels of carbon andnitrogen in plant and soil, it decreased vegetation coverage and aboveground biomass,which are undesirable for livestock production and sustainable grassland development.What is more, heavy grazing could also introduce potential carbon and nitrogen lossvia increasing CO2 and N2O emission into the atmosphere. Grazing at moderateintensity resulted in a plant community dominated by forage grasses with highaboveground biomass productivity and N content. The alpine meadow ecosystems inTibetan Plateau are very fragile and evolve under increasing grazing intensity by largeherbivores; therefore, deterioration of the plant-soil system, and possible declines insoil C and N, are potential without proper management in the future.

Linking bees and flowers: How do floral communities structure pollinator communities?

Pollinators provide essential ecosystem services, and declines in some pollinator communities around the world have been reported. Understanding the fundamental components defining these communities is essential if conservation and restoration are to be successful. We examined the structure of plant-pollinator communities in a dynamic Mediterranean landscape, comprising a mosaic of post-fire regenerating habitats, and which is a recognized global hotspot for bee diversity. Each community was characterized by a highly skewed species abundance distribution, with a few dominant and many rare bee species, and was consistent with a log series model indicating that a few environmental factors govern the community. Floral community composition, the quantity and quality of forage resources present, and the geographic locality organized bee communities at various levels: (1) The overall structure of the bee community (116 species), as revealed through ordination, was dependent upon nectar resource diversity (defined as the variety of nectar volume-concentration combinations available), the ratio of pollen to nectar energy, floral diversity, floral abundance, and post-fire age. (2) Bee diversity, measured as species richness, was closely linked to floral diversity (especially of annuals), nectar resource diversity, and post-fire age of the habitat. (3) The abundance of the most common species was primarily related to post-fire age, grazing intensity, and nesting substrate availability. Ordination models based on age-characteristic post-fire floral community structure explained 39-50% of overall variation observed in bee community structure. Cluster analysis showed that all the communities shared a high degree of similarity in their species composition (27-59%); however, the geographical location of sites also contributed a smaller but significant component to bee community structure. We conclude that floral resources act in specific and previously unexplored ways to modulate the diversity of the local geographic species pool, with specific disturbance factors, superimposed upon these patterns, mainly affecting the dominant species.

Vegetation dynamics in abandoned crop fields on a Mediterranean island: Development of succession model and estimation of disturbance thresholds

This case study on the Sifnos island, Greece, assesses the main factors controlling vegetation succession following crop abandonment and describes the vegetation dynamics of maquis and phrygana formations in relation to alternative theories of secondary succession. Field survey data were collected and analysed at community as well as species level. The results show that vegetation succession on abandoned crop fields is determined by the combined effects of grazing intensity, soil and geological characteristics and time. The analysis determines the quantitative grazing thresholds that modify the successional pathway. Light grazing leads to dominance by maquis vegetation while overgrazing leads to phryganic vegetation. The proposed model shows that vegetation succession following crop abandonment is a complex multi-factor process where the final or the stable stage of the process is not predefined but depends on the factors affecting succession. An example of the use of succession models and disturbance thresholds as a policy assessment tool is presented by evaluating the likely vegetation impacts of the recent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on Sifnos island over a 20-30-year time horizon. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Contribution of N Species and P Fractions to Stream Water Quality in Agricultural Catchments

The contribution from agricultural catchments to stream nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations was assessed by evaluation of the chemical composition of these nutrients in agricultural runoff for both surface and subsurface flow pathways. A range of land uses (grazed and ungrazed grassland, cereals, roots) in intensive agricultural systems was studied at scales from hillslope plots (0.5m2) to large catchment (>300km2). By fractionating the total nutrient load it was possible to establish that most of the phosphorus was transported in the unreactive (particulate and organic) fraction via surface runoff. This was true regardless of the scale of measurement. The form of the nitrogen load varied with land use and grazing intensity. High loads of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (with >90% transported as NH4-N) were recorded in surface runoff from heavily grazed land. In subsurface flow from small (2km2) subcatchments and in larger (>300 km2) catchments, organic nitrogen was found to be an important secondary constituent of the total nitrogen load, comprising 40% of the total annual load.

Relações planta-animal num sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária

Este trabalho buscou estudar um sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária com diferentes alturas de pastos, no período de inverno, e seus reflexos sobre a dinâmica da pastagem e o desempenho animal. O experimento foi conduzido em uma pastagem de aveia + azevém manejada sob diferentes intensidades de pastejo. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com quatro tratamentos (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm de altura de manejo) e três repetições. Utilizaramse terneiros de corte de cruzamento industrial com idade e peso médio inicial de 10 meses e 210 kg, respectivamente. O método de pastejo foi contínuo com lotação variável. A adubação de base foi de 400 kg/ha de superfosfato simples e de 90 kg/ha de N em cobertura. As alturas do pasto afetaram a massa de forragem (MF), onde para cada cm de aumento na altura acima de 10 cm, houve incremento na matéria seca da pastagem em cerca de 86 kg/ha de MS. O aumento no ganho médio diário (GMD) foi condicionado pelo incremento na qualidade e/ou na quantidade de forragem disponível, e o modelo de resposta do GMD em relação às alturas do pasto, resultou em valores de 0,73 e 1,14 kg/animal/dia nos tratamentos de maior e menor GMD, respectivamente, que foram de 10 cm e 30 cm de altura. No rendimento de carcaça não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos, uma vez que todos os valores ficaram em torno de 51%. Quanto ao peso de carcaça quente e fria, peso de costilhar, escore de condição corporal e grau de acabamento, observou-se comportamento muito similar à evolução do ganho médio diário dos animais.

Suplementação como estratégia de produção de carne de qualidade em pastagens tropicais

O manejo do pastejo e a suplementação estratégica permitem maximizar a produção de carne bovina em pastagens de forma sustentável. A intensidade de pastejo influencia diretamente o crescimento individual, taxas de aparecimento e mortalidade de perfilhos, a determinar o acúmulo de forragem e a estrutura do dossel. Dessa forma, nas águas, é função do manejo do pastejo adequar a frequência e intensidade de desfolhação para que o animal possa colher forragem com idade fisiológica e valor nutritivo adequados. A idade e tamanho dos perfilhos determinam a proporção de tecidos de suporte lignificados que reduzem a digestibilidade da forragem. No período seco, o manejo do pasto e a estratégia de diferimento, ao final do período das águas, são determinantes na obtenção de forragem de melhor valor nutritivo. Assim, o manejo das pastagens visa, primeiramente, à produção de forragens com altos teores de fibra potencialmente digestíveis. A partir de então, a caracterização da quantidade e qualidade da forragem são primordiais à adequação dos nutrientes fornecidos, via suplementos, para otimizar a utilização dos recursos forrageiros basais. A suplementação da dieta dos animais em pastejo, com concentrado, permite aumentar o desempenho dos animais, o que reduz a idade de abate e melhora a qualidade da carcaça e da carne obtida, além dos benefícios na preparação dos animais terminados em confinamento. Portanto, o manejo do pastejo e a suplementação da dieta dos animais permitem aumento de produtividade e maior qualidade dos produtos.

Suplementação da dieta de bovinos de corte como estratégia do manejo das pastagens

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Características morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-marandu manejado sob pastejo intermitente com diferentes ofertas de forragem

Avaliaram-se as características morfogênicas e estruturais do dossel de Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandu, sob pastejo intermitente no período chuvoso, em diferentes ofertas de forragem e ciclos de pastejo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com três repetições. Nas parcelas, avaliou-se o efeito das ofertas de forragem (4, 7, 10 e 13% do PV/dia) e, nas subparcelas, o efeito dos ciclos de pastejo. Todas as variáveis diferiram entre os ciclos de pastejo, comprovando grande influência das condições ambientais sobre as características avaliadas. A taxa de alongamento do colmo e a altura do dossel responderam linear e positivamente ao aumento da oferta de forragem. O número de perfilhos vegetativos nos piquetes com a menor oferta permaneceu constante ao longo de todo o período experimental, no entanto, nos piquetes com as demais ofertas, atingiu valores mais elevados nos ciclos intermediários. A densidade de perfilhos reprodutivos e totais ajustou-se ao modelo quadrático de acordo com a oferta de forragem. Pastos manejados com ofertas de forragem próximas a 4% PV/dia têm menor alongamento de colmos e tendem a reduzir as perdas por senescência. As variáveis ambientais exercem maior influência sobre as características morfogênicas e estruturais em comparação a ações de manejo como a oferta de forragem.

Influência da intensidade de pastejo e suplementação no perfil metabólico e indicadores de estresse de cordeiros em terminação

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Parasitismo gastrintestinal em diferentes intensidades de pastejo no capim Tânzania, em caprinos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)