Heavy metals in plants and phytoremediation - A state-of-the-art report with special reference to literature published in Chinese journals

Goal, Scope and Background. In some cases, soil, water and food are heavily polluted by heavy metals in China. To use plants to remediate heavy metal pollution would be an effective technique in pollution control. The accumulation of heavy metals in plants and the role of plants in removing pollutants should be understood in order to implement phytoremediation, which makes use of plants to extract, transfer and stabilize heavy metals from soil and water. Methods. The information has been compiled from Chinese publications stemming mostly from the last decade, to show the research results on heavy metals in plants and the role of plants in controlling heavy metal pollution, and to provide a general outlook of phytoremediation in China. Related references from scientific journals and university journals are searched and summarized in sections concerning the accumulation of heavy metals in plants, plants for heavy metal purification and phytoremediation techniques. Results and Discussion. Plants can take up heavy metals by their roots, or even via their stems and leaves, and accumulate them in their organs. Plants take up elements selectively. Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in the plant depends on the plant species, element species, chemical and bioavailiability, redox, pH, cation exchange capacity, dissolved oxygen, temperature and secretion of roots. Plants are employed in the decontamination of heavy metals from polluted water and have demonstrated high performances in treating mineral tailing water and industrial effluents. The purification capacity of heavy metals by plants are affected by several factors, such as the concentration of the heavy metals, species of elements, plant species, exposure duration, temperature and pH. Conclusions. Phytoremediation, which makes use of vegetation to remove, detoxify, or stabilize persistent pollutants, is a green and environmentally-friendly tool for cleaning polluted soil and water. The advantage of high biomass productive and easy disposal makes plants most useful to remediate heavy metals on site. Recommendations and Outlook. Based on knowledge of the heavy metal accumulation in plants, it is possible to select those species of crops and pasturage herbs, which accumulate fewer heavy metals, for food cultivation and fodder for animals; and to select those hyperaccumulation species for extracting heavy metals from soil and water. Studies on the mechanisms and application of hyperaccumulation are necessary in China for developing phytoremediation.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Kentucky bluegrass

Embryogenic calli of Kentucky bluegrass, named Md, were induced from mature seeds and embryos, and proliferated on medium K3 containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 10.0 mumol/L), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAR, 0.5 mumol/L) and K5 which was the K3 medium supplemented with cupric sulfa (0.5 mumol/L) under dim-light condition (20-30 mumol.m(-2).s-1, 16 h light) at 24 degreesC. Embryogenic calli were transformed with plasmids pDM805 Carring bar and gus genes, Which was mediated by an Agrobacterium strain AGL1, four transgenic lines were obtained. The important factors that affect the transformation efficiency and obtain desirable number of transgenic plants included: (1) the quality of embryogenic calli; (2) light condition and time of co-cultivation; (3) concentration of antibiotics used for suppressing the overgrowth of Agrobacterium in the course of transformed plant regeneration; (4) selection pressure, etc. The micro nutrient of cupric had significant influence on the quality of embryogenic calli. This presentation is the first successful protocol of Kentucky bluegrass transformation mediated by Agrobacterium.

Effects of heavy metals on plants and resistance mechanisms

Goal, Scope and Background. As one of the consequences of heavy metal pollution in soil, water and air, plants are contaminated by heavy metals in some parts of China. To understand the effects of heavy metals upon plants and the resistance mechanisms, would make it possible to use plants for cleaning and remediating heavy metal-polluted sites. Methods. The research results on the effects of heavy metals on plants and resistant mechanisms are compiled from Chinese publications from scientific journals and university journals, mostly published during the last decade. Results and Discussion. Effects of heavy metals on plants result in growth inhibition, structure damage, a decline of physiological and biochemical activities as well as of the function of plants. The effects and bioavailability of heavy metals depend on many factors, such as environmental conditions, pH, species of element, organic substances of the media and fertilization, plant species. But, there are also studies on plant resistance mechanisms to protect plants against the toxic effects of heavy metals such as combining heavy metals by proteins and expressing of detoxifying enzyme and nucleic acid, these mechanisms are integrated to protect the plants against injury by heavy metals. Conclusions. There are two aspects on the interaction of plants and heavy metals. On one hand, heavy metals show negative effects on plants. On the other hand, plants have their own resistance mechanisms against toxic effects and for detoxifying heavy metal pollution. Recommendations and Outlook. To study the effects of heavy metals on plants and mechanisms of resistance, one must select crop cultivars and/or plants for removing heavy metals from soil and water. More highly resistant plants can be selected especially for a remediation of the pollution site. The molecular mechanisms of resistance of plants to heavy metals should be studied further to develop the actual resistance of these plants to heavy metals. Understanding the bioavailability of heavy metals is advantageous for plant cultivation and phytoremediation. Decrease in the bioavailability to farmlands would reduce the accumulation of heavy metals in food. Alternatively, one could increase the bioavailability of plants to extract more heavy metals.

Culture of the terrestrial cyanobacterium, Nostoc flagelliforme (Cyanophyceae), under aquatic conditions

Both colonies and free-living cells of the terrestrial cyanobacterium, Nostoc flagelliforme (Berk. & Curtis) Bornet & Flahault, were cultured under aquatic conditions to develop the techniques for the cultivation and restoration of this endangered resource. The colonial filaments disintegrated with their sheaths ruptured in about 2 days without any desiccating treatments. Periodic desiccation played an important role in preventing the alga from decomposing, with greater delays to sheath rupture with a higher frequency of exposure to air. The bacterial numbers in the culture treated with seven periods of desiccation per day were about 50% less compared with the cultures without the desiccation treatment. When bacteria in the culture were controlled, the colonial filaments did not disintegrate and maintained the integrity of their sheath for about 20 days even without the desiccation treatments, indicating the importance of desiccation for N. flagelliforme to prevent them from being disintegrated by bacteria. On the other hand, when free-living cells obtained from crushed colonial filaments were cultured in liquid medium, they developed into single filaments with sheaths, within which multiple filaments were formed later on as a colony. Such colonial filaments were developed at 15, 25, and 30degreesC at either 20 or 60 mumol photons.m(-2).s(-1); colonies did not develop at 180 mumol photons.m(-2).s(-1), though this light level resulted in the most rapid growth of the cells. Conditions of 60 mumol photons.m(-2).s(-1) and 25degrees C appeared to result in the best colonial development and faster growth of the sheath-held colonies of N. flagelliforme when cultured indoor under aquatic conditions.

Chinese studies on the edible blue-green alga, Nostoc flagelliforme: a review

Nostoc flagelliforme, which is distributed in arid or semiarid steppes of the west and west-northern parts of China, has been used by the Chinese as a food delicacy and for its herbal values for hundreds of years. However, the resource is being over-exploited and is diminishing, while the market demands are increasing with the economic growth. This review deals mainly with the Chinese studies on the ecology, physiology, reproduction, morphology and culture of this species in an attempt to promote research and development of its cultivation technology.

Anomalous photogalvanic effect of circularly polarized light incident on the two-dimensional electron gas in AlxGa1-xN/GaN heterostructures at room temperature

Under normal incidence of circularly polarized light at room temperature, a charge current with swirly distribution has been observed in the two-dimensional electron gas in Al0.25Ga0.75N/GaN heterostructures. We believe that this anomalous charge current is produced by a radial spin current via the reciprocal spin Hall effect. It suggests a new way to research the reciprocal spin Hall effect and spin current on the macroscopic scale and at room temperature.

A new p-n structure ultraviolet photodetector with p(-)-GaN active region

A new ultraviolet photodetector of employing p menus type GaN (p(-)-GaN) as the active layer is proposed. It is easy to obtain the p(-)-GaN layer with low carrier concentration. As a result, the depletion region can be increased and the quantum efficiency can be improved. The influence of some structure parameters on the performance of the new device is investigated. Through the simulation calculation, it is found that the quantum efficiency increases with the decrease of the barrier height between the metal electrode and the p(-)-GaN layer, and it is also found that the quantum efficiency can be improved by reducing the thickness of the p(-)-GaN layer. To fabricate the new photodetector with high performance, we should employ thin p(-)-GaN layer as the active layer and reduce the Schottky barrier height.

榆林市耕地资源与粮食安全研究

耕地资源是粮食生产及粮食安全的基础。针对世界粮价飙升所引发的"粮食危机",我国的粮食安全又重新成为社会所关注的焦点。在分析榆林市1949-2005年耕地资源变化的基础上,对耕地面积和粮食产量的年际变化率及不同历史阶段两者的相关关系进行分析,提出了榆林市粮食安全的保障措施。结果表明:1949-2005年,榆林市耕地面积及人均耕地面积均呈减少趋势;耕地数量变化对粮食生产具有根本的约束作用,但耕地面积与粮食产量的年际变化率的趋势并不完全同步,农业科技投入不仅抵消了因耕地面积减少所导致的粮食减产,而且可以使粮食总产出现较大增长,但耕地数量仍是稳定粮食总产的重要因素。

渭北泥炭资源在栽培基质中的应用研究

针对人工栽培基质中基质配比问题,采用生物试验的方法,对陕西彬县的泥炭、陕西铜川的油页岩、陕西关中土粘化层土壤,进行不同比例的配合后,再对配合基质设制不同处理,进行作物的室内栽培试验,通过生物量、生物性状(根冠比)、及产量分析来判断基质配比的优劣。研究结果表明:随着泥炭比例的增加,小青菜的产量增加,泥炭量达到一定值后,随着泥炭量的增加,小青菜的产量反而降低;泥炭与<1 mm粘土配合(PS)处理中,PS3处理(泥炭∶粘土为3∶1)小青菜地上部分产量最大;在泥炭与7~10 mm粘土配合(PB)处理中,PB2处理(泥炭∶粘土为2∶1)小青菜地上部分产量最大;对小青菜根系生物量来说,在泥炭和粘土比例较小时,小颗粒粘土处理的根量明显高于大颗粒粘土处理,在泥炭和粘土的比例较大时,大颗粒处理高于小颗粒处理。对油页岩处理而言,在泥炭量较少的配合基质中加入8%的油页岩能起到良好的增产作用;而在泥炭含量较多时,对小青菜产量的影响是负面的;石灰处理对小青菜地上部分产量影响都是负面的,但是对小青菜根系生物量的影响基本是正面的。高温处理对小青菜地上部分产量的影响基本上都是负面的,对小青菜根系的生长也基本是起负作用的。根冠比达到某一适宜值...

栽培和施肥模式对黄土区旱地土壤微生物量及可溶性有机碳、氮的影响

以黄土高原南部地区的两个定位试验为基础,研究了旱地不同栽培和施肥模式对土壤微生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氮的影响。结果表明,秸秆覆盖显著提高土壤微生物量氮(SMBN)含量,地膜覆盖使SMBN含量显著降低;秸秆和地膜覆盖显著降低小麦拔节期和灌浆期土壤可溶性有机氮(SON)含量。适量施用化学氮肥(120kg/hm2)有利于小麦生长后期SMBN含量的升高,而过量施用(240 kg/hm2)显著降低SMBN含量。与不施肥处理相比,土地经长期撂荒后0-10 cm土层SMBC,SMBN,SOC和SON含量显著提高;氮磷钾配施有机肥显著提高小麦各生育期0-10,10-20 cm土层SMBC,SMBN,SOC和SON的含量;单施氮磷钾肥对土壤SMBC,SMBN含量无明显影响,提高土壤SOC,SON的平均含量。土壤SMBC,SMBN,SOC和SON含量两两之间呈极显著正相关关系,四者含量与土壤有机碳、全氮含量间的正相关关系也达显著或极显著水平。

提高人工植被培育中土壤抗旱性的综合措施

干旱条件下培育人工植被,采取适当的抗旱措施是必不可少的,其中作为植物生长发育所需水分、营养的载体,土壤是显著的可调控对象,对其合理处置与抗旱有着密切的关系。以土蓄水、抑制蒸发、改良土壤、培肥地力等有利于对有限水分的利用。提高土壤抗旱性的综合措施包括土壤耕作、土壤培肥、土壤覆盖、防止水分深层渗漏等方面。在气候暖化的背景下,为增强土壤抗旱措施的效果,提高其技术水平,分析了与蓄水、保水、集水以及用水有关的土壤抗旱方式及其特点。在综合述评的基础上,还讨论了土壤抗旱措施的技术应用问题和需要研究的主要方面。

有机肥对设施菜地土壤-植物系统氮运移的影响

在设施菜地条件下，研究了不同有机肥施入量在黄瓜生长期对土壤-植物系统NO3--N迁移累积的影响。结果表明，黄瓜生长期土壤-植物系统NO3--N的迁移累积规律受黄瓜生长期、有机肥施用水平和土壤肥力的影响。盛果期，不同肥力土壤各个土层的硝酸盐含量和黄瓜叶片及体内的硝酸盐含量均高于黄瓜的其它生长期；对于不同的施肥水平，当施肥量为60 t hm-2时各个土层的不同肥力土壤硝酸盐含量均高于其它处理，且高肥力土壤条件下黄瓜体内的硝酸盐含量在黄瓜生长旺盛期超过国家安全食品标准(410mgkg-1)，当施肥量低于20 t hm-2时不同肥力土壤各个土层未出现硝酸盐显著累积现象，且在黄瓜生长的各个时期，黄瓜体内的硝酸盐含量均未超标。 土壤硝酸盐的垂直运移过程受有机肥施用水平和土壤肥力的影响，施肥量低于20 t hm-2时不同肥力土壤各土层未出现硝酸盐显著累积现象，当施肥量为60 t hm-2时土壤硝酸盐累积峰值随土壤肥力水平的提高而增加；40-150 cm土壤剖面中硝酸盐累积总量随有机肥施用量的增加而增加；不同肥力土壤在相同有机肥施用水平下40-150 cm土壤硝酸盐累积总量的变化量不同，土壤肥力越高土壤硝酸盐累积总量的绝对增加量越大，说明相同的有机肥处理对高肥力土壤硝酸盐累积影响更大。

栽培措施与文冠果结实性关系的研究

文冠果（Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge）是我国北方特有的木本油料树种，已被列为生物质能源树种之一。现阶段产量低是限制其发展的重要因素。结合目前文冠果生产发展的实际需要，有必要通过实践探讨出一套经济、简单易行的栽培措施，指导文冠果的高产优质栽培管理。本文以内蒙古翁牛特旗文冠果经济林场内40年生文冠果树为研究对象，对文冠果生物学、生态学特性进行定位观测和试验，研究了文冠果物候与积温的关系；野外布置不同管理措施的正交试验设计，测定了不同管理措施下文冠果产量和年生长周期内叶片矿质元素（N、P、K、Mg、Fe、Zn、Cu、Mn）的含量变化趋势，并对数据进行了分析。初步确定了文冠果物候与矿质养分动态变化、栽培管理措施与产量以及叶片养分含量之间的关系，为提高文冠果的产量、制定合理栽培管理措施提供一定理论依据，也为文冠果的进一步开发利用打下基础。 主要结论： 1.文冠果年生长周期内物候变化与积温呈显著对数函数关系，可以预测文冠果年生长发育期有效积温的理论值，也可以根据实际有效积温预测文冠果物候变化进程； 2.文冠果叶片中矿质元素变化与物候期有密切联系，大量元素间存在协同关系，水肥管理对叶片中矿质元素的变化有很大影响； 3.施肥和浇水均可提高文冠果果实产量，水肥耦合措施提高产量尤为显著：与对照相比，5月初一次浇水、施肥270g/株可使产量提高303%。

双氰胺对设施菜地土壤-植物系统氮运移的影响

在设施菜地条件下，研究了配施双氰胺对土壤-植物系统NO3--N 迁移累积和作物产量的影响。结果表明，配施 2 %、5 % 和10 % 浓度的双氰胺均可以有效降低设施菜地耕层土壤 NO3--N 的淋溶和累积，推迟土壤 NO3--N 含量高峰出现时间15 d 以上。而且随着双氰胺配施浓度的升高，其硝化抑制效果越明显。 配施不同浓度的双氰胺可不同程度降低砂壤质潮棕壤 40 - 120 cm 土层土壤 NO3--N 的累积，其中配施 10 % 双氰胺对控制 NO3--N 在深层土壤中的累积和淋溶效果最显著，对减少设施菜地土壤和地下水 NO3--N 污染的环境治理有较高的参考价值。在试验期间未观测到粘壤质潮棕壤试验样地中各施肥处理NO3--N 在40 cm 以下的深层土壤中的累积和淋溶。 配施不同浓度的双氰胺调整了土壤硝态氮供应量和供应时间，不同程度的降低了收获期苦苣可食部分硝酸盐的含量，部分施肥处理已达到极显著水平(P<0.01)。各试验处理苦苣可食部分硝酸盐含量均低于 3000 mg•kg-1，达到国家叶菜类安全食品标准 (GB 19338-2003)，且部分处理已低于1000 mg•kg-1。同时，添加双氰胺可明显降低苦苣可食部分亚硝酸盐的含量，使苦苣亚硝酸盐含量低于 2 mg•kg-1，达到国家绿色食品绿叶类蔬菜卫生标准 (NY/T 743-2003)，但不同双氰胺配施浓度之间差异不明显。此外，配施双氰胺在一定程度上提高了作物产量，但在增产效果与双氰胺的配施量不成正比。

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.