若尔盖高原花湖湖滨湿地甲烷排放研究

若尔盖高原湿地位于青藏高原东北部地区，平均海拔3,400-3,600m，是长江和黄河的自然分水区，区内发育了大面积的草本沼泽以及高寒沼泽化草甸、高寒湖泊。由于它所处的位置海拔高、气候波动较大，并处于我国三大自然区的交错过渡带，因而被认为是我国最为典型的脆弱湿地生态系统之一。由于地处偏远、自然环境条件恶劣等多方面的原因，针对若尔盖湿地的科学研究资料一直以来还非常缺乏。本文对国内外近年来在湿地生态系统甲烷排放过程、研究方法，以及关于湿地生态系统甲烷排放的影响因素进行了综述，并采用静态箱－气相色谱法，从湿地环境格局、湿地甲烷排放等方面，对若尔盖高原典型高寒湖泊湖滨不同类型湿地甲烷排放特征进行了研究，并进一步探讨了影响若尔盖高原高寒湖泊湖滨带甲烷排放的因素。得到如下结果：1．若尔盖高原花湖湖滨湿地在植物生长季（6 至8 月），甲烷排放平均速率为0.315 mg·m-2·h-1；不同月份间甲烷排放速率存在差异，分别为：-0.054、0.471、0.493 mg·m-2·h-1。不同类型湿地甲烷排放速率亦表现出差异，两栖蓼（Polygonum amphibium）湿地、滩涂和藏嵩草（Kobresia tibetica）草甸甲烷排放速率分别为：0.464、0.477、0.005mg·m-2·h-1。2．若尔盖高原花湖湖滨湿地甲烷排放速率与土壤10cm 温度显著相关。土壤温度是影响若尔盖高原花湖湖滨不同类型湿地甲烷排放的重要因素之一。随着土壤温度的升高，土壤微生物活性增强，使土壤中的氧消耗加快，氧化还原电位下降，有利于产甲烷菌的生长，从而增加土壤的甲烷产生量。3．地表水位与若尔盖高原花湖湖滨湿地甲烷排放速率相关性不显著。地表水覆盖，使得湿地土壤缺氧状况得到加强，增强了土壤中产甲烷菌的活性，促进甲烷形成，再通过植物、气泡或扩散的形式释放出土壤。但水层的加深，也使土壤中已产生的甲烷在通过气泡或扩散形式穿越水层时，被氧化的量增加，从而减少了甲烷向大气中的排放。4．植被高度以及植被地上生物量与若尔盖高原花湖湖滨带甲烷排放速率的相关性不显著。植物主要通过凋落物以及根系分泌物的输入为产甲烷菌提供基质，并作为土壤与大气之间的甲烷气体交换的传输途径；与其他环境因素共同影响湿地生态系统甲烷排放。The Zoige wetland on the eastern fringe of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, with averagealtitude between 3,400 and 3,600m, is the watershed of Yangtze River and YellowRiver. There are large area of peatland, subalpine meadow and lakes in this region.Due to its high elevation, transitional topology and high fluctuation of climate, theZoige wetlands represent one of the most fragile wetland ecosystems in China. And asa result of remote location and harsh environment conditions, the researches on theZoige wetland are relatively rare, especially the researches on the methane emissionfrom littoral zone of alpine lakes. Variations of methane emission rates as measuredby the method of static chamber – gas chromatography (GC) were detected fromlittoral zone of alpine lake on the Zoige Plateau. Relationships between methaneemission rates and environmental factors were analyzed. It is concluded that:1．The average methane emission rate in the littoral zone of Huahu Lake, ZoigePlateau is 0.315 mg·m-2·h-1, with evident spatial and temporal variations. The littoralzone has different methane effluxes with -0.054, 0.471, and 0.493 mg·CH4·m-2·h-1in June, July and August respectively. Different types of wetland have differentmethane emission rates, with value of 0.464, 0.477, and 0.005 mg·CH4·m-2·h-1 forPolygonum amphibium wetland ( PA ), Shoal ( S ) and Kobresi tibetica meadow ( KT ), respectively.2． The soil temperature at 10cm is significantly correlated with the methane effluxesin littoral zone of Huahu Lake, Zoige Plateau, and which is one of the most important factors influencing the methane emission from this region. The activities of soilmicroorganisms rise under higher soil temperature and increases oxygen consumptionand decreases Eh, which is in favor of the methanogensis, and enhances theproduction of methane in soil.3． The correlation between the standing water and methane effluxes from littoralzone of Huahu Lake is not significant. Because of the standing water, the anaerobicconditions of wetland soil have been enhanced, and are favor to the decomposition oforganic matter. And the anaerobic conditions strengthen the methanogensis’ activities,thus the methane production, which release to the atmosphere by diffusion, ebullitionand aerenchymal plants. With the water level’s increase, more methane produced insoil which is transferred by ebullitions or diffusion are oxidated, thus reduce themethane release to the atmosphere.4． The height and aboveground biomass of vegetation are not significant related tothe methane effluxes from littoral zone of Huahu Lake, Zoige Plateau. The vegetationprovides substrates for methanogensis by litter and root exudates; act as thetransportation way of methane between soil and atmosphere; influence the methaneemission of wetland ecosystems with other environment factors.

瑞香狼毒（Stellera chamaejasme L.）对高寒草甸系统生长和非生长季节碳氮循环的影响及其花粉化感效应

瑞香狼毒（Stellera chamaejasme L.）是瑞香科（Thymelaeaceae）狼毒属的一种多年生野草，有毒。据调查，从20 世纪60 年代开始至今，狼毒在青藏高原东缘的高寒草甸上不断蔓延、密度不断变大，在一些地段甚至成为优势物种。有关狼毒在高寒草甸蔓延的生态系统效应的研究尚未见报道。本文从系统碳、氮循环的角度，分别研究狼毒在生长和非生长季节对高寒草甸生态系统的影响。同时，从花粉化感的角度，深入研究狼毒对当地同花期物种有性繁殖的影响。系统地研究高寒草甸生态系统物质循环过程，特别是非生长季节微生物和土壤碳氮库的动态变化，有助于揭示狼毒在系统物质循环方面的“物种效应”以及这种效应的季节变化，为丰富有关高海拔生态系统，特别是其非生长季的物质循环的科学理论做出贡献。同时，碳氮循环和花粉化感的研究还有助于深刻地理解狼毒作为一种入侵性很强的杂草的特殊的蔓延机制，从而为狼毒的有效防治、高寒草甸的科学管理提供依据。 针对狼毒在青藏高原高寒草甸上蔓延的生态系统碳氮循环方面的影响，开展以下2 方面的研究：（1）在生长季，研究松潘县尕米寺附近（北纬32°53'，东经103°40'，海拔3190 m）的两种地形（平地和阳坡）条件下狼毒对土壤碳氮循环影响及可能的原因。狼毒和其它几个主要物种（圆穗蓼（Polygonummacrophyllum D. Don var. Macrophyllum），草地早熟禾（Poa pretensis L.），四川嵩草（Kobresia setchwanensis Hand.-Maizz.），鹅绒委陵菜（Potentilla anserina L.var. anserine）和鳞叶龙胆（Gentiana squarrosa Ledeb.）的地上凋落物产量以及地上凋落物和根的化学组成被测量。在有-无狼毒斑块下，各种土壤的库（比如，铵态氮、硝态氮、无机磷和微生物生物量）和周转率（包括净矿化、净硝化、总硝化、反硝化和微生物呼吸速率）被测量和比较。（2）在非生长季节，尤其是春季冻融交替期，选取了两个研究地点——尕米寺和卡卡沟（北纬32°59'，东经103°41'，海拔3400 m），分别测定有狼毒和无狼毒斑块下土壤微生物生物量碳和氮、可溶性有机碳和氮以及铵态氮和硝态氮的动态变化。同时，分别在上述两个地点有-无狼毒的样地上，研究6 个主要物种（狼毒、圆穗蓼、草地早熟禾、四川嵩草、鹅绒委陵菜和鳞叶龙胆）从秋季开始、为期1 年的凋落物分解过程。 针对狼毒花粉化感对同花期其它物种可能的花粉化感作用开展以下工作：在实验室中，用一系列浓度的狼毒花粉水浸提液对与它同花期的其它物种以及自身花粉进行测试，测定花粉萌发率；在野外自然条件下的其它物种的柱头上施用上述浓度的狼毒花粉水浸提液，观测种子结实率，同时，观察狼毒花粉的种间花粉散布数量。 生长季节的研究结果表明，狼毒地上凋落物氮含量比其它几个主要物种更高，而木质素-总氮比更低。狼毒显著地增加其斑块下表层土壤中有机质的含量，而有-无狼毒的亚表层土壤在有机碳和总磷方面没有显著差异。狼毒表土中硝态氮含量在平地和阳坡比无狼毒土壤分别高113%和90%。狼毒表土中微生物生物量碳和氮量显著高于无狼毒表土。无论是平地还是阳坡，狼毒土壤的总硝化和微生物呼吸速率显著高于无狼毒土壤；而它们的反硝化速率只在平地有显著的差异。狼毒与其它物种间地上凋落物的产量和质量的差异可能是导致有-无狼毒土壤碳氮循环差异的原因。我们假设，狼毒可能通过增加贫氮生态系统土壤中的有效氮含量提高其入侵能力。 非生长季的研究结果表明，在青藏高原东缘的高寒草甸上，土壤微生物生3物量在11 月的秋-冬过渡期达到第一个峰值；在春季的冻融交替期，微生物生物量达到第二个峰值后又迅速降低。无机氮以及可溶性有机碳氮与微生物生物量有相似的变化过程。微生物碳氮比呈现显著的季节性变化。隆冬季节的微生物生物量碳氮比显著高于生长旺季的微生物碳氮比。这种变化可能暗示冬、夏季微生物的群落组成和对资源的利用有所不同。有-无狼毒斑块下土壤微生物和土壤碳、氮库一般只在秋-冬过渡期有显著差异，有狼毒土壤微生物生物量和土壤碳、氮库显著高于无狼毒土壤；而在之后的冬季和春季没有显著差异。所有6 个物种凋落物在非生长季分解率为24%-50%，均高于生长季的10%到30%。其中在秋-冬过渡期，凋落物开始埋藏的两周时间内，分解最快，达10%-20%。不同物种凋落物全年的分解率和分解过程有显著差异。圆穗蓼在全年的分解都较缓慢（非生长季26%，生长季15%），草地早熟禾和四川嵩草等全年的分解速率比较均匀（非生长季和生长季均为30%，非生长季略高），而狼毒在非生长季分解较快（约50%），而在接下来的生长季分解变得缓慢（约12%）。所有物种的凋落物氮含量在非生长季下降，而在随后的生长季上升。 实验室的花粉萌发试验证明，狼毒花粉对自身花粉萌发没有自毒作用，而其它受试的所有物种（圆穗蓼，秦艽（Gentiana macrophylla Pall. var. fetissowii），湿生扁蕾（Gentianopsis paludosa (Hook. f.) Ma var. paludosa），鳞叶龙胆，椭圆叶花锚（Halenia elliptica D. Don var. elliptica），蓝钟花（Cyananthus hookeri C. B.Cl. var. grandiflorus Marq.），小米草（Euphrasia pectinata Ten.），川西翠雀花（Delphinium tongolense Franch.），高原毛茛（Ranunculus tanguticus (Maxim.)Ovcz. var. tanguticus）和鹅绒委陵菜）的花粉萌发率随着狼毒花粉浸提液浓度的增加呈显著的非线性降低。大约3 个狼毒花粉的浸提液就可以抑制受试的多数物种的50%的花粉萌发。在鳞叶龙胆和小米草柱头上狼毒花粉的数量分别为5.76 个和3.35 个。狼毒花粉散布数量的差异最可能的原因在于是否有共同的传粉昆虫。花的形状（辐射对称VS 左右对称）、植株或花的密度以及花期重叠性可以部分解释这种差异。在野外试验中，我们发现6 个物种（秦艽、湿生扁蕾、鳞叶龙胆、椭圆叶花锚、蓝钟花和小米草）的种子结实率随狼毒花粉浸提液浓度的增加呈显著的非线性降低。鳞叶龙胆和小米草柱头上狼毒花粉的数量（分别是5.76 个和3.35 个）分别达到了抑制它们63%和55%种子结实率的水平。因此，狼毒对鳞叶龙胆和小米草可能存在明显的花粉化感抑制作用。狼毒周围的物种可能通过花期在季节或昼夜上的分异避免受到狼毒花粉化感的影响或者通过无性繁殖来维持种群繁衍，因此狼毒通过花粉化感作用对其周围物种繁殖的影响程度还需要进一步地研究。如果狼毒的花粉化感抑制作用确实存在，那么它可能成为一种自然选择压力，进而影响物种的进化。 Stellera chamaejasme L., a perennial toxic weed, has emerged and quicklydominated and spread in the high-frigid meadow on the eastern Tibetan Plateau ofChina since the 1960s. In the present study, effects of S. chamaejasme on carbon andnitrogen cycles on the high-frigid meadow on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau ingrowing and non-growing season, and its pollen allelopathic effects on the sympatricspecies were determined. The present study that focused on carbon and nitrogencycles, especially on microbial biomass and pools of carbon and nitrogen innon-growing season, could profoundly illuminate plant-species effects on carbon andnutrient cycles and its seasonal pattern and help to understand spread mechanism ofS. chamaejasme as an aggressive weed. The present study also contributed to furtherunderstand carbon and nutrient cycles on alpine regions in non-growing season andprovide a basis on weed control of S. chamaejasme and scientific management in thehigh-frigid ecosystem. Effects of S. chamaejasme on carbon and nitrogen cycles on the high-frigidmeadow on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were determined. The study couldbe divided into two parts. (1) In the growing season, we quantified the effects of S.chamaejasme on carbon and nitrogen cycles in two types of topographic habitats, theflat valley and the south-facing slope, where S. chamaejasme was favored to spreadlitter and root were measured to explain the likely effects of S. chamaejasme on soilcarbon and nutrient cycles. The sizes of various soil pools, e.g. nitrite, ammonium,inorganic phosphorus and microbial biomass, and turnover rates including netmineralization, gross nitrification, denitrification and microbial respiration weredetermined. (2) In the non-growing season study, microbial biomass carbon andnitrogen, soluble organic carbon and nitrogen, ammonium and nitrate weredetermined through the non-growing season, especially in the processes offreeze-thaw of spring in two high-frigid sites, i.e. Kaka valley and Gami temple, onthe eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Meanwhile, litter decomposition of six commonspecies, including Stellera chamaejasme L., Polygonum macrophyllum D. Don var.Macrophyllum, Poa pretensis L., Kobresia setchwanensis L., Potentilla anserina L.var. anserine and Gentiana squarrosa Ledeb., were also examined under theabove-mentioned experimental design through one whole-year, which began in theautumn in 2006. In the study of pollen allelopathy, several work, including in vitro study oneffects of extract of pollen from S. chamaejasme on sympatric species and pollenfrom itself, field experiments on effects of pollen extract with the same regime ofconcentrations on seed set and field observation on heterospecific pollen transfer ofS. chamaejasme to six of those sympatric species has been done. The results in the growing season showed that aboveground litter of S.chamaejasme had higher tissue nitrogen and lower lignin: nitrogen ratio than thoseco-occurring species. S. chamaejasme significantly increased topsoil organic matter,whereas no significant differences were found for organic C and total P in subsoilbetween under-Stellera and away-Stellera locations. The nitrate in Stellera topsoilwas 113% and 90% higher on the flat valley and on the south-facing slope,respectively. Both microbial biomass C and N were significantly higher in Stelleratopsoil. Gross nitrification and microbial respiration were significantly higher inStellera topsoil both on the flat valley and on the south-facing slope, whereassignificant differences of denitrification were found only on the flat valley. Thedifferences in the quantity and quality of aboveground litter are a likely mechanismresponsible for the changes of soil variables. We assumed that S. chamaejasme couldenhance their spread by increasing nutrient availability in N-deficient ecosystems. The results in the non-growing season showed that microbial biomass achievedthe first summit in late autumn and early winter on the eastern Qinghai-TibetanPlateau. In the stages of freeze-thaw of spring, microbial biomass firstly achieved thesecond summit and subsequently sharply decreased. Inorganic nitrogen, solubleorganic carbon and nitrogen had a similar dynamics with that of microbial biomass.Ratio of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen had an obviously seasonal pattern.The highest microbial C: N were in the non-growing season, which weresignificantly higher than those in the growing season. The seasonal pattern inmicrobial biomass C: N suggested that large changes in composition of microbialpopulation and in resources those used by microbes between summer and winter.Generally, microbial biomass and pools size of carbon and nitrogen in Stellera soilwere significantly higher than those under adjacent locations in late autumn andearly winter, but there were not significant differences in winter and in spring. Litterof all the focal species (Stellera chamaejasme L., Polygonum macrophyllum D. Donvar. Macrophyllum, Poa pretensis L., Kobresia setchwanensis Hand.-Maizz.,Potentilla anserina L. var. anserine and G. squarrosa Ledeb.) decomposed about24%-50% in the non-growing season, which were higher than those in the growingseason (ranged from 10% to 30%). Litter decomposed 10%-20% within the first twoweeks in late autumn and early winter. Significant differences in the whole-yeardecomposition rate and in the processes of decomposition were found among species.Polygonum macrophyllum decomposed slowly through the whole year (26% and15% in the non-growing season and in the growing season, respectively). Certainspecies, such as P. pretensis L. and K. setchwanensis, decomposed at a similar rate(30% both in the non-growing and in the growing season, slightly higher in the8growing season than those in the growing season), whereas S. chamaejasmedecomposed more rapidly (about 50%) in the non-growing season and subsequentlydecomposition became slow (about 12%) in the growing season. Litter nitrogencontents of all the focal species firstly decreased in the non-growing season and thenincreased in the growing season. In vitro experiments of pollen allelopathy, the results showed that pollen from S.chamaejasme was not autotoxic, whereas pollen germination in all the sympatricspecies (Polygonum macrophyllum D. Don var. Macrophyllum, Gentianamacrophylla Pall. var. fetissowii, Gentianopsis paludosa (Hook. f.) Ma var. paludosa,Gentiana squarrosa Ledeb., Halenia elliptica D. Don var. elliptica, Cyananthushookeri C. B. Cl. var. grandiflorus Marq., Euphrasia pectinata Ten., Delphiniumtongolense Franch., Ranunculus tanguticus (Maxim.) Ovcz. var. tanguticus andPotentilla anserina L. var. anserina) decreased nonlinearly as the increasingconcentrations of extract of pollen from S. chamaejasme. Pollen Extract of threepollens from S. chamaejasme generally inhibited 50% pollen germination of most ofthe focal species. 5.76 and 3.35 pollens from S. chamaejasme were observed in fieldon stigmas of G. squarrosa and E. pectinata, respectively. Differences inheterospecific pollen transfer of S. chamaejasme could be attributed to the primaryreason whether they shared common pollinators. Flower morphology (e.g.zygomorphic or actinomorphic), plant or floral density and concurrence in floweringphonologies could explain, in part, the differences in heterospecific pollen transfer.In field experiments, the results showed that seed set in six sympatric species(Gentiana macrophylla Pall. var. fetissowii, Gentianopsis paludosa (Hook. f.) Mavar. paludosa, Gentiana squarrosa Ledeb., Halenia elliptica D. Don var. elliptica,Cyananthus hookeri C. B. Cl. var. grandiflorus Marq. and Euphrasia pectinata Ten.)decreased nonlinearly as the increasing concentrations of extract of pollen from S.chamaejasme. According to the nonlinear curves, the amounts of pollens from S.chamaejasme on stigmas of G. squarrosa and of E. pectinata (i.e. 5.76 grains and3.35 grains, respectively) could reduce 63% and 55% seed set of G. squarrosa and ofE. pectinata, respectively. Thus, allelopathic effects of S. chamaejasme on G.squarrosa and E. pectinata could be realistic. The sympatric species of S.chamaejasme could avoid pollen allelopathy of S. chamaejasme to sustainthemselves. This highlights the need to study how much pollen allelopathy in S.chamaejasme influences the sympatric species through divergence in seasonal ordiurnal flowering phonologies or through asexual reproduction. If pollen allelopathyin S. chamaejasme was confirmed, it could be as a pressure of natural selection andthus play an important role in species evolution.

四川九顶山西坡及龙肘山维管植物区系和植物多样性研究

横断山地区是一个十分自然的植物区系地区，在中国植物区系分区中是作为泛北极植物区中国-喜马拉雅亚区中的一个地区，其种子植物区系具有丰富的科、属、种，地理成分复杂，特有现象和替代现象明显。该地区作为植物区系和生物多样性的研究热点地区，长期以来极受中外植物学家关注。横断山脉东缘是中国-喜马拉雅和中国-日本植物区系的交汇过渡区域，北部的岷江流域以及南部的金沙江流域，孕育了该区丰富的物种资源和植被资源。而岷江干热河谷和金沙江干热河谷的相似性和相关性，更为该区的植物区系和生物多样性南北的对比研究提供了有利的条件。 本研究选择的九顶山西坡和龙肘山分别位于横断山区北部和南部，九顶山属岷江流域而龙肘山属金沙江流域。本研究结合植物区系研究和生物多样性研究，对该区的植物资源进行调查。通过样带调查和样线踏查结合，大量详实的野外样方调查和标本采集，进行传统的区系研究和生物多样性研究。研究该区物种多样性的海拔梯度格局及其潜在的影响影子，并利用新的区系评估质量方法对九顶山西坡的植物区系质量进行定量的研究，以期能更为深刻的理解该区的植物资源，为该区的资源保护和利用提供合理可行的建议。主要研究结论如下： 1）九顶山西坡植物区系的性质和特点 经鉴定和统计，九顶山西坡共有1707 种维管植物，分属617 属和140 科,其中种子植物1616 种，分属572 属117 科。就科的分布区成分构成而言，该区系的热带成分与温带成分相当，热带成分略占优势，表明九顶山西坡的植物区系与热带植物区系有较强的联系。但是，在九顶山西坡属的分布区类型所占的比例上，温带成分远远超过了热带成分，本区的种子植物分布表现出明显的温带性质。且温带分布类型的许多物种组成了九顶山西坡植被的建群种和优势种，是本区系最重要的成分，充分体现了本区系的温带性质。 2）九顶山西坡不同植被带的生物多样性海拔梯度格局 基于对土门-断头崖、茶山-九顶山、雁门沟-光光山三条垂直植被样带的调查，我们发现九顶山西坡的生物多样性沿海拔梯度的变化呈现出一定的规律性，不同样带之间有一定差异。就三条样带的物种组成相似性来看，虽然土门－断头崖样带属于涪江水系，而茶山－九顶山样带和雁门沟－光光山样带属于岷江水系，但不同水系对该区物种组成的影响并不明显。三条样带中，草本层物种丰富度均远远大于灌木层和乔木层，而以乔木层物种丰富度最低；α－多样性指数随着海拔梯度的变化在土门-断头崖样带中呈现单一下降趋势，在茶山-九顶山样带表现为双峰模型，而在雁门沟-光光山样带则表现为不显著波动变化；均匀度指数在土门-断头崖样带呈现出单一下降的趋势，在雁门沟-光光山样带表现为凹形曲线，而在茶山-九顶山样带却无明显的变化规律。β－多样性指数在土门-断头崖样带和茶山-九顶山样带呈现出明显的波动状态，植被类型替代现象明显；而在雁门沟-光光山样带却并未有十分显著的转折点，因其水平植被带受到干扰，同海拔替代现象不显著。 3）九顶山西坡维管植物丰富度的海拔梯度格局 我们考察了九顶山西坡和两条垂直样带（土门－断头崖和雁门沟－光光山样带）的不同分类等级（包括科、属、种）和不同生活型物种（乔木、灌木、禾草、蕨类和其它草本）的丰富度沿着海拔梯度的分布。结果发现，物种的丰富度海拔梯度格局具有不同的模式，单一下降和中间膨胀格局依然是其主流。不同生活型的物种具有不同的丰富度格局，但是对于环境需求相似的类型具有较相似的丰富度格局。不同的丰富度格局可能由多因素导致，包括：气候，海拔跨度，面积，人为干扰等等。 4）九顶山西坡区系质量评估 我们尝试使用传统的区系质量评估方法对九顶山西坡的区系质量进行评估，并尝试使用一种新的区系质量评估体系对该区的区系进行评价。在九顶山西坡随着海拔梯度的上升，平均保守性系数在各条植被带中均呈现出逐渐上升的趋势。区系质量指数随着海拔的升高都表现为双峰模型，在植被交错区区系质量指数相对较高，而在海拔的两极，区系质量指数都很低。大部分地区使用新方法计算所得的加权平均保守性系数和区系质量指数都比传统方法计算的平均保收性系数和区系质量指数要高，说明在九顶山西坡的三条样带中，大部分地区都是那些保守性系数较高的物种占据优势，同时也表明九顶山西坡具有很高质量的区系和自然植被。 5）龙肘山种子植物区系的性质和特点 龙肘山种子植物区系的物种较为丰富，共有154 科，544 属，1156 种。科的优势十分明显，单种属和寡种属数量众多，说明本区系植物成分较为复杂、起源古老、物种多样性指数较高。地理成分复杂，分布类型多样，其中热带成分在总数量上高于温带成分，但是许多温带成分的属是该区植被的重要建群类群和优势类群，表现出明显的亚热带性质。 6）龙肘山生物多样性的现状和特点 在海拔梯度上，龙肘山地区无论是科、属、种的数量，还是不同等级分类单元之间的数量比，均呈现先升后降的趋势，并在中海拔地区达到峰值。物种多样性指数从总体上来说变化幅度不大，略有先升后降的趋势，在中海拔梯度物种多样性最高。乔、灌、草三层的多样性指数表现出乔木层<灌木层<草本层的特征；乔木层均匀度的变化很大，而灌木层和草本层均匀度的变化较小；灌木层均匀度的波动又强于草本层。β－多样性指数呈现单峰模式，中海拔地区最高。就龙肘山东、西坡物种多样性相比较而言，两者虽然在数值上交替上升，但是却体现出了较为一致的趋势，但西坡因受到干热河谷气候的影响，其平均气温要高于东坡，导致了东坡植物群落和物种的分布比西坡要低。在区系成分构成上，低山区的相同海拔段，西坡的热带亚热带成分所占的比例要比东坡高，这是因为西坡的平均气温比东坡稍高，导致了热带、亚热带物种分布更多。而随着海拔的上升，东、西两坡的气候、土壤等条件趋于一致，其植物区系成分的构成格局也趋于一致。 The Hengduan Mountain region is a very natural floristic region; it belongs toChina-Himalaya sub-region of Holarctic region in floristic subarea of China. The flora in this areais rich in family, genus and species; has a very complex composition of geographical elements;especially with high richness of endemic species and obvious substitution phenomenon. Thisregion as a hot-spot area of floristic and biodiversity, has fascinated biologists in the world for along time. The eastern range of Hengduan Mountain is the transition zone of China – Himalayaforest sub-region and China-Japan forest sub-region in floristic. The water systems are quitedifferent, Minjiang River in the north and Jishajiang River in the south grow quit different but alsoabundant plant species and vegetation resources. The similarity and correlativity of Minjiang River dry valleys and Jinshajiang River dry valleys have provided advantageous condition tocontrast flora and biodiversity between north and south. In the present study, the Jiuding Mountainlies in the north of Hengduan Mountain and belongs to Minjiang River, and the LongzhouMountain lies in the south of Hengduan Mountain and belongs to Jinshajiang River. In our study, we combined the methods of floristic research and biodiversity investigation toexplore the resources of plant species and vegetations; sampled with transects along the altitudinalgradients and also with transverse straps with similar elevation; collected the vascular plant specimen with sampling plots of ecology. We explored the plant species richness patterns alongaltitudinal gradients and discussed the underlying factors aroused these patterns; and used a novelmethod to assess the quality of Jiuding Mountain’s flora. All for a deeper comprehension of the plant recourses of this region; and provided feasible and reasonable suggestion for the protectionof resources. The results were as follows: 1 The characteristic of the flora of the west slope of Jiuding Mountain We had collected 1707 species of vascular plants belonging to 617 genera in 140 families inthe west slope of Jiuding Mountain，in which included 1616 seed plant species belonging to 572genera and 117 families. As for the composition of the areal types of the Families of seed plants,tropic components and temperate components are well-balanced, and percentage of tropicscomponents is higher than that of temperate ones for a litter bit. This shows the flora in the westslope of Jiuding Mountain has strong relationship with the tropic flora. But for the composition ofthe areal types of genera, temperate components have far exceeded the tropics ones, indicated thewhole flora with a conspicuous temperate character. Temperate components possess maximumproportion in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain, and many of them belong to constructivespecies and dominant species in the vegetation, are most important components in JiudingMountain’s Flora, also have embodied the temperate character of this area sufficiently. 2 Biodiversity patterns along altitudinal gradients in different vegetation transects in the westslope of Jiuding Mountain Based on the investigation of three vegetation transects (including Tumen-Duantouya transect,Chashan-Jiudingshan transect and Yanmengou-Guangguangshan Transect) in the west slope ofJiuding Mountain, we found the change of biodiversity along the altitude gradients displayedcertain regularity, but have differences among different transects. The three transects belong todifferent water systems; the Tumen-Duantouya transect belongs to Fujiang River, and the othertwo belong to Minjiang River. From the similarity of species compositions of different transects,we found different water system didn’t show obvious impact on the species composition. In all thethree transects, the species richness of herb layer was remarkably higher than shrub and tree layer,and the species richness of tree layer was the lowest one. With the increasing of the altitude, theline of α-diversity was monotonically decreasing curve in Tumen-Duantouya transect, andbimodal curve in Chashan-Jiudingshan transect, but in Yanmengou-Guangguangshan transectshowed a wave-like curve although not very obvious. Species evenness showed monotonicallydecreasing trends in Tumen-Duantouya transect, and very low at mid-altitude in Yanmengou-Guangguangshan transect, but in Chashan-Jiudingshan transect changed irregularly. Changes inβ-diversity corresponded with the transition of vegetation in the Tumen-Duantouya transect andChashan-Jiudingshan transect, and the curve of β-diversity along altitude had obvious turningpoint; but in Yanmengou-Guangguangshan transect had no obvious turning point, and thesubstitution phenomenon was not obvious, transverse vegetation straps distributed interlaced. 3 Richness patterns of vascular plant species along altitude in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain Direct gradient analysis and regression methods were used to describe the species richnesspatterns along the altitudinal for Mt. Jiuding, as well as separately for Tumen-Duantouya Transectand Yanmengou-Guangguangshan Transect. Altitudinal gradient of diversity of units at differenttaxonomic level (including Family, Genus and Species) and at different life form (including tree,shrub, pteridophyte, grass and other herb) were tested to find differences among the richnesspattern. We found altitudinal richness also shows different patterns, and both monotonicallydecreasing pattern and hump-shaped pattern can be founded in vascular species richness. Speciesin different life forms show different altitudinal patterns, but those species with similarrequirements to environmental conditions show similar richness patterns along altitudinalgradients. Different richness patterns can be aroused by different climate, different altitudinal span,area factor, anthropogenic factor and so on. 4 Floristic quality assessments in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain We used both the conventional method broadly adopted in the USA and the new one toassess the floristic quality in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain. The Mean Coefficient ofConservatism (MC) had the trend of increment along the altitudinal gradients. The FloristicQuality Index (FQI) was a bimodal curve with increasing of elevation; FQI got maximum valuesin the transition zones of different vegetations in the middle altitude, and had very low values atthe two end of elevation. In most areas of the west slope of the Jiuding Mountain, the resultscalculated using the new methods were higher than those using the conventional method. Thisindicated the dominant species of the communities had very high coefficients of conservatism inmost areas of Jiuding Mountain, and the communities are relatively kept pristine and the habitats very integrative. 5 The characteristic of the flora of Longzhou Mountain The flora of Longzhou Mountain has very abundant in species composition; there are about1156 species of seed plants belonging to 544 genera in 154 families. In which, twelve families with more than 20 species include totally 232 genera and 532 species, and form the majority of itsflora. The origin of its flora is old, monospecific genera and oligotypic genera amounts to 510 innumber, which constitute 93.75% of total number of genera. The geographical components arevarious in Longzhou Mountain, the majority of flora are temperate and pantropic ones. The tropiccomponents overtopped temperate components on genera quantity, but many temperatecomponents belong to constructive species and dominant species in the vegetation, and the wholeflora shows an obvious subtropical character. 6 Current situation and characteristic of biodiversity in Longzhou Mountain With the increasing of altitude, the number of species, genus, family and the ratios ofdifferent taxonomic levels all displayed a trend of descending after rising first, and peaked atmiddle height area. The change of α-diversity was not very acutely, with the trend of descendingafter rising first in some degree, the middle height area had highest α-diversity. As studying thetree layer, shrub layer and herb layer respectively, the Shannon-Wiener index was in followingorder: tree layer < shrub layer < herb layer; the change of evenness was more complicatedly thanthat of diversity, the tree layer changed acutely, but the shrub layer and herb layer fluctuatedsmoothly. Changes in β-diversity also showed the trend of descending after rising first. TheJaccard index and Cody index all peaked at the middle height forest area. As for the comparison ofplant diversity and evenness between the west and east slope, the numerical values ascendedalternatively, but the trend of changing was similar. The distribution of similar plant communitiesand species in east slope were lower than the west slope for the influence of Jinsha River DryValley. As for the composition of different floristic components, in lower altitude area of westslope, the tropic and sub-tropic plants had higher ratio than east slope’s and even could be equal tothe temperate plants. With the increasing of elevation, the floristic composition become morelikely between the east and west slope and temperate plants dominated the flora.

猪场废水短程硝化反硝化-厌氧氨氧化脱氮研究

畜禽废水是农村水环境污染的主要来源之一，其处理的难点在于脱氮。传统生物脱氮法具有能耗高、需大量外加碳源等缺点，开发低成本、高效率的新型生物脱氮技术具有重要意义。 本研究将短程硝化反硝化和厌氧氨氧化两种脱氮新技术结合，让前者为后者创造去除可降解COD、降低总氮负荷、调整pH、调整氨氮和亚硝酸盐氮浓度比例等进水条件，而后者可在无需外加碳源的条件下进一步脱氮，二者结合可成为高氨氮、低C/N废水脱氮的新途径。 试验以低碳氮比猪场废水为研究对象，首先进行了短程硝化反硝化预处理研究，同时启动并运行调控厌氧氨氧化反应器，最后以经过短程硝化反硝化预处理的猪场废水为进水，进行厌氧氨氧化脱氮考察。实验表明：（1）短程硝化反硝化作为厌氧氨氧化的预处理工序是可行的。猪场废水通过短程硝化反硝化，可以达到基本去除可生化COD、部分脱氮、控制出水氨氮和亚硝酸盐氮浓度之比在1︰1左右、pH在7.5～8.0的目的， COD和总氮平均去除率分别为64.3%、49.1%,出水可达到厌氧氨氧化反应的进水要求。（2）采用模拟废水启动厌氧氨氧化反应器，经过5个月左右的运行调控，反应器启动成功并稳定运行，最高总氮去除率为87.1%，总氮容积去除率最高达到0.14kg/m3.d；整个稳定阶段，氨氮、亚硝酸盐氮、硝酸盐氮的变化量之比为1︰1.21︰0.33。（3）经过短程硝化反硝化预处理的猪场废水厌氧氨氧化脱氮效果稳定，氨氮、亚硝酸盐氮、总氮、COD的平均去除率分别为93.0%、99.4%、84.6%、18.1%，处理效果与模拟废水处理系统相比无明显变化。（4）经过短程硝化反硝化预处理后，猪场废水中残留有机物成分在厌氧氨氧化反应过程中无显著变化，主要为酯类和烷烃类物质；残留有机物对厌氧氨氧化效果无明显影响。（5）采用PCR技术进行特殊功能菌种检测，结果表明模拟废水处理系统和猪场废水处理系统的菌群中均含有厌氧氨氧化菌和好氧硝化菌；通过blast比对，厌氧氨氧化菌扩增序列与未培养的Planctomycetales菌和Candidatus Brocadia fulgida菌16S rRNA部分序列相似性分别为95％、90%。（6）MPN法菌种计数结果显示，模拟废水处理系统和猪场废水处理系统的菌群中均含有硝化细菌、亚硝化细菌和少量反硝化菌，实验条件下的微生物系统是一个厌氧氨氧化菌与好氧硝化菌、反硝化菌共存的系统。 Poultry wastewater is one of the main source of water pollution in rural areas，and nitrogen removal is the most difficult part in treating poultry wastewater. There are some disadvantages in traditional nitrogen removal, such as high energy consumption and more additional organic carbon. It is important to develop ecolomical and efficient technologyies. Shortcut nitricfication/denitrification, as a pretreatment process, was combined with Anammox in this research, so that part of total nitrogen and most degradable COD could be removed by the former, and further nitrogen removal could be implemented by the latter. The combination of the two technologies was a new approach to treat wastewater with high ammonium and low C/N. Piggery wastewater with low C/N was treated in lab-scale experiment. Firstly, shortcut nitrification/denitrification was investigated, and Anammox reactor was started up successfully at the same time. Then piggery wastewater after pretreatment was treated by Anammox. The results showed :(1) It was feasible to take nitrification/denitrification as the pretreatment process of Anammox. By using this process, part of total nitrogen and COD were removed, the ratio of ammonium and nitrite reached around 1︰1 and the pH was about 7.8, which were favorable for Anammox. The average removal percentage of COD and total nitrogen were about 64.3% and 49.1%, respectively. (2) Simulated wastewater was used to start up Anammox reactor. The reactor was started up successfully within 5 months and stable performance was achieved. The highest nitrogen removal reached 87.1% and the biggest volumetric total nitrogen removal rate reached 0.14kg/m3.d. The average ratio of ammonium, nitrite and nitrate was 1:1.21:0.33. (3)Taking the effluent of shortcut nitrification/denitrification as the influent, the nitrogen removal efficiency of Anammox was stable, and the the average removal percentage of ammonium, nitrite, total nitrogen and COD were 93.0%, 99.4% , 84.6% and 18.1%, respectively, which had little difference with that by using simulated wastewater..(4) After pretreatment, the residual organic carbon in piggery wastewater showed no obvious change during the Anammox process, and the main organic compounds were saturated hydrocarbon and ester, which had no obvious negative effect on Anammox process.(5) By PCR technology, the existence of Anammox bacteria was confirmed and the aerobic nitrifying bacteria was found to coexist as well. The result of blast showed that the identities of Anammox bacterium to part of 16S rRNA sequence of uncultured Planctomycetales bacterium and Candidatus Brocadia fulgida bacterium were 95% and 90%, respectively.（6）By MPN method, nitrite oxidizer, ammonium oxidizer and denitrification bacteria were detected in both simulated and piggery wastewater treatment system of Anammox, and the microorganism system was composed of Anammox bacteria，aerobic bacteria and denitrification bacteria together.

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]).

沙棘的水土保持功能及其在治理和开发黄土高原中的作用(英文)

研究表明 ,5～ 7年生沙棘林冠层可截留降水 8 5%～ 4 9 0 % ,并降低雨滴动能 ;枯枝落叶层重5 4 6t·hm- 2 ,其最大持水量可达 15 31t·hm- 2 ,有 1cm厚枯枝落叶层覆盖地表 ,即可基本控制水土流失 ;根系可以提高土壤的抗冲性和抗蚀性 ,与无根系土壤相比 ,可减少土壤冲刷量 55%～ 88% .据1988～ 1994年雨季径流小区测定 ,沙棘林在栽植后 4～ 5年可充分发挥水土保持作用 ,与农地相比 ,可减少地表径流量 87 1% ,减少土壤流失量 99 0 % .此外 ,它还可以每 4～ 5年提供薪材 10～ 30t·hm- 2 ,提高土壤中有机质和氮素含量 115%和 90 % ,生产沙棘果实 50 0kg·hm- 2 .所有这些表明了沙棘在治理黄土高原水土流失和改善人民生活条件 ,在实现由“恶性循环”向“良性循环”转变等方面 ,具有十分重要的作用 .目前 ,黄土地区已建立起若干利用沙棘固坡、防洪、解决燃料短缺和综合治理小流域的成功典型

黄土高原人工油松林枯枝落叶截留动态研究

用定位观测的方法研究了人工油松林枯枝落叶的截流量及其截留的动态过程。结果表明 ,黄土高原人工油松林枯枝落叶的截流量年均为49.3mm ,截留率为12.5%。枯枝落叶截留的动态过程受大气降水和环境因子的影响较大 ,也与其自身湿润程度有关。在次降水过程中 ,其截留的过程是当降水开始时 ,截留量增加迅速 ;降水持续到一定时间后 ,截流量的增量变小 ,达到最大值后 ,截流量在此处上下增减。枯枝落叶截留的动态过程可用直线和正弦函数的组合描述 ,且该函数能揭示枯枝落叶截留的生物学特性和环境因素对其过程的影响。该模型在计算森林水文及其水土保持效应评价中有广泛的应用前景。

黄土高原森林枯枝落叶层保持水土的有效性

采用人工模拟与天然降水相结合的方法 ,定量研究了枯枝落叶层保持水土的有效性。研究结果表明 ,在黄土高原常见坡度 2 5°和暴雨雨强 1～ 2 mm/m in的条件下 ,该地区油松和山杨林枯枝落叶层保持水土的有效厚度为 0 .9～ 1.0 cm,低于这个数量 ,将明显降低其蓄水减沙效益

水土保持林土壤改良效益评估模型的研究

Based on amount of field investigation and laboratory analysis, this paper emphasized on the establishment of soil improvement benefit evaluation models. It is pointed out that the benefit evaluation models can be simulated by taking litter biomass, mean diameter of breast high (D), mean height (H) and (D 2H) as independent variables and taking comprehensive benefit evaluation index as dependent variable. The models vary with different independent variables and can be chosen to use according to actual situation.

Effects of afforestation on soil carbon turnover in China's subtropical region

Afforestation in China's subtropics plays an important role in sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere and in storage of soil carbon (C). Compared with natural forests, plantation forests have lower soil organic carbon (SOC) content and great potential to store more C. To better evaluate the effects of afforestation on soil C turnover, we investigated SOC and its stable C isotope (delta C-13) composition in three planted forests at Qianyanzhou Ecological Experimental Station in southern China. Litter and soil samples were collected and analyzed for total organic C, delta C-13 and total nitrogen. Similarly to the vertical distribution of SOC in natural forests, SOC concentrations decrease exponentially with depth. The land cover type (grassland) before plantation had a significant influence on the vertical distribution of SOC. The SOC delta C-13 composition of the upper soil layer of two plantation forests has been mainly affected by the grass biomass C-13 composition. Soil profiles with a change in photosynthetic pathway had a more complex C-13 isotope composition distribution. During the 20 years after plantation establishment, the soil organic matter sources influenced both the delta C-13 distribution with depth, and C replacement. The upper soil layer SOC turnover in masson pine (a mean 34% of replacement in the 10 cm after 20 years) was more than twice as fast as that of slash pine (16% of replacement) under subtropical conditions. The results demonstrate that masson pine and slash pine plantations cannot rapidly sequester SOC into long-term storage pools in subtropical China.

Comparison of the total amount of eggshell pigments in Dongxiang brown-shelled eggs and Dongxiang blue-shelled eggs

Based on the knowledge of the heme biosynthetic and metabolic pathway and the structures of biliverdin and protoporphyrin, experiments were carried out to compare the difference between the total quality of eggshell pigments in blue-shelled eggs and brown-shelled eggs from the same population (Dongxiang, China) and to analyze the correlation between the quantity of protoporphyrin and biliverdin in the 2 kinds of eggshells. It was found that there was no significant difference between the total quantity of eggshell pigments in Dongxiang blue-shelled eggs and Dongxiang brown-shelled eggs (P = 0.9006), and a highly significant positive correlation between the quantity of protoporphyrin and biliverdin in blue eggshells (P < 0.01) and a significant positive correlation between the quantity of protoporphyrin and biliverdin in brown eggshells (P < 0.05). These results suggested that eggshell protoporphyrin and eggshell biliverdin probably derived from common precursor material.

Changes in plant biomass and species composition of alpine Kobresia meadows along altitudinal gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Alpine Kobresia meadows are major vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. There is growing concern over their relationships among biodiversity, productivity and environments. Despite the importance of species composition, species richness, the type of different growth forms, and plant biomass structure for Kobresia meadow ecosystems, few studies have been focused on the relationship between biomass and environmental gradient in the Kobresia meadow plant communities, particularly in relation to soil moisture and edaphic gradients. We measured the plant species composition, herbaceous litter, aboveground and belowground biomass in three Kobresia meadow plant communities in Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station from 2001 to 2004. Community differences in plant species composition were reflected in biomass distribution. The total biomass showed a decrease from 13196.96 +/- 719.69 g/m(2) in the sedge-dominated K. tibetica swamp to 2869.58 +/- 147.52 g/m(2) in the forb and sedge dominated K. pygmaea meadow, and to 2153.08 +/- 141.95 g/m(2) in the forbs and grasses dominated K. humilis along with the increase of altitude. The vertical distribution of belowground biomass is distinct in the three meadow communities, and the belowground biomass at the depth of 0-10 cm in K. tibetica swamp meadow was significantly higher than that in K. humilis and K. pygmaea meadows (P < 0.01). The herbaceous litter in K. tibetica swamp was significantly higher than those in K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadows. The effects of plant litter are enhanced when ground water and soil moisture levels are raised. The relative importance of litter and vegetation may vary with soil water availability. In the K. tibetica swamp, total biomass was negatively correlated to species richness (P < 0.05); aboveground biomass was positively correlated to soil organic matter, soil moisture, and plant cover (P < 0.05); belowground biomass was positively correlated with soil moisture (P < 0.05). However, in the K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadow communities, aboveground biomass was positively correlated to soil organic matter and soil total nitrogen (P < 0.05). This suggests that the distribution of biomass coincided with soil moisture and edaphic gradient in alpine meadows.

Independence of alpine meadow plants from soil organic matter for nitrogen supply: evidence from stable nitrogen isotopes

Stable nitrogen isotope signatures of major sources of mineral nitrogen ( mineralization of soil organic nitrogen, biological N-2 fixation by legumes, annual precipitation and plant litter decomposition) were measured to relatively define their individual contribution to grass assimilation at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem, Qinghai, China. The results indicated that delta N-15 values (- 2.40 parts per thousand to 0.97 parts per thousand) of all grasses were much lower than those of soil organic matter (3.4 +/- 0.18 parts per thousand) and mineral nitrogen ( ammonium and nitrate together,7.8 +/- 0.57 parts per thousand). Based on the patterns of stable nitrogen isotopes, soil organic matter (3.4 +/- 0.18 parts per thousand), biological N-2 fixation (0 parts per thousand), and precipitation (- 6.34 +/- 0.24 parts per thousand) only contributed to a small fraction of nitrogen requirements of grasses, but plant litter decomposition (- 1.31 +/- 1.01 parts per thousand) accounted for 67%.

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.

Experimental warming causes large and rapid species loss, dampened by simulated grazing, on the Tibetan Plateau

We investigated the independent and combined effects of experimental warming and grazing on plant species diversity on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, a region highly vulnerable to ongoing climate and land use changes. Experimental warming caused a 26-36% decrease in species richness, a response that was generally dampened by experimental grazing. Higher species losses occurred at the drier sites where N was less available. Moreover, we observed an indirect effect of climate change on species richness as mediated by plant-plant interactions. Heat stress and warming-induced litter accumulation are potential explanations for the species' responses to experimental warming. This is the first reported experimental evidence that climate warming could cause dramatic declines in plant species diversity in high elevation ecosystems over short time frames and supports model predictions of species losses with anthropogenic climate change.