Aurintricarboxylic acid prevents GLUR2 mRNA down-regulation and delayed neurodegeneration in hippocampal CA1 neurons of gerbil after global ischemia

Aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), an inhibitor of endonuclease activity and other protein–nucleic acid interactions, blocks apoptosis in several cell types and prevents delayed death of hippocampal pyramidal CA1 neurons induced by transient global ischemia. Global ischemia in rats and gerbils induces down-regulation of GluR2 mRNA and increased α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-induced Ca2+ influx in CA1 before neurodegeneration. This result and neuroprotection by antagonists of AMPA receptors suggests that formation of AMPA receptors lacking GluR2, and therefore Ca2+ permeable, leads to excessive Ca2+ influx in response to endogenous glutamate; the resulting delayed neuronal death in CA1 exhibits many characteristics of apoptosis. In this study, we examined the effects of ATA on expression of mRNAs encoding glutamate receptor subunits in gerbil hippocampus after global ischemia. Administration of ATA by injection into the right cerebral ventricle 1 h before (but not 6 h after) bilateral carotid occlusion prevented the ischemia-induced decrease in GluR2 mRNA expression and the delayed neurodegeneration. These findings suggest that ATA is neuroprotective in ischemia by blocking the transcriptional changes leading to down-regulation of GluR2, rather than by simply blocking endonucleases, which presumably act later after Ca2+ influx initiates apoptosis. Maintaining formation of Ca2+ impermeable, GluR2 containing AMPA receptors could prevent delayed death of CA1 neurons after transient global ischemia, and block of GluR2 down-regulation may provide a further strategy for neuroprotection.

Mongolian People's Republic (Outer Mongolia)

Includes bibliographies.

Experimental studies in mental deficiency. Three cases of imbeciltiy (Mongolian) and six cases of feeble-mindedness,

"Appendix and bibliography": p. 52-56.

Spatio-temporal patterns of herbage availability and livestock movements: A cross-border analysis in the Chinese-Mongolian Altay

Due to increasing population and the recent implementation of policies to intensify the use of land and water resources, the transhumant pastoral systems in the Chinese-Mongolian Altay-Dzungarian region are rapidly changing, leading to modifications of herd size, herd composition and spatial distribution of livestock grazing. This may have major consequences for the supply and quality of rangeland biomass. Despite similar topographic settings, the socio-political framework for Chinese and Mongolian pastoralists differs significantly, leading to differences in rangeland utilization. To substantiate these claims, the long-distance transhumance routes, frequency of pasture changes, daily grazing itineraries and size of pastures were recorded by means of GPS tracking of cattle and goats on 1,535 (China) and 1,396 (Mongolia) observation days. The status quo of the main seasonal pastures was captured by measuring the herbage offer and its nutritive value in 869 sampling spots. In the Altay-Dzungarian region, small ruminant herds covered up to 412 km (Mongolia) and grazed on up to nine pastures per year (China). In Mongolia, the herds’ average duration of stay at an individual pasture was longer than in China, particularly in spring and autumn. Herbage allowance at the onset of a grazing period (kg dry matter per sheep unit and day) ranged from 34/17 to 91/95 (China/Mongolia). Comparing crude protein and phosphorous concentrations of herbage, in China, the highest concentrations were measured for spring and summer pastures, whereas in Mongolia, the highest concentrations were determined for autumn and winter pastures. Based on our data, we conclude that regulation of animal numbers and access to pastures seemingly maintained pasture productivity in China, especially at high altitudes. However, this policy may prohibit flexible adaptation to sudden environmental constraints. In contrast, high stocking densities and grazing of pastures before flowering of herbaceous plants negatively affected rangeland productivity in Mongolia, especially for spring and summer pastures.

Learning processes in creative industries initiatives in developing countries : an examination of policy and practice

What does a dance group in Benin that mixes contemporary and ethnic dancing have in common with Mongolian felt producers that want to enter the design market in Europe? These are both examples of learning processes in Creative Industries initiatives in developing countries. Following the concept of sustainable development, I argue that the challenge for developing countries in contemporary society is to meet the very real need of people for economic development and opportunities for income generation, while at the same time avoiding unintended and unwanted consequences of economic development and globalisation. The concept of the Creative Industries may be a way to promote a development that is sustainable and avoids social exclusion of groups-at-risk. In line with this, I argue that the Creative Industries sector could, in fact, link economic development and the continuation and evolution of local traditions and cultural heritage. A pressing question then is: how can education and learning contribute to creating a context in which talent can flourish? This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research problem of this thesis: what elements are conducive for individual learning processes in creative development initiatives? In this, I argue that it is crucial to determine what ingredients and characteristics contribute to making these initiatives successful, that is, to meet their specific goals, in a developing context. This is explored through a staged analysis: an overview of quantitative data, an inventory and comparative case studies and, finally, the description and analysis of two in-depth case studies – felt design in Mongolia (Asia) and dance in Benin (Africa), in which I was an observer of the action phase of the local interventions. The analysis culminates in practice-related outcomes related to the operation of creative development initiatives, as well as the contribution to the academic debate on issues like the cultural gap between developed and developing countries, transformative learning and the connection of learning spaces.

Cooking enhances but the degree of ripeness does not affect provitamin A carotenoid bioavailability from bananas

Banana is a staple crop in many regions where vitamin A deficiency is prevalent, making it a target for provitamin A biofortification. However, matrix effects may limit provitamin A bioavailability from bananas. The retinol bioefficacies of unripe and ripe bananas (study 1A), unripe high-provitamin A bananas (study 1B), and raw and cooked bananas (study 2) were determined in retinol-depleted Mongolian gerbils (n = 97/study) using positive and negative controls. After feeding a retinol-deficient diet for 6 and 4 wk in studies 1 and 2, respectively, customized diets containing 60, 30, or 15% banana were fed for 17 and 13 d, respectively. In study 1A, the hepatic retinol of the 60% ripe Cavendish group (0.52 ± 0.13 μmol retinol/liver) differed from baseline (0.65 ± 0.15 μmol retinol/liver) and was higher than the negative control group (0.39 ± 0.16 μmol retinol/liver; P < 0.0065). In study 1B, no groups differed from baseline (0.65 ± 0.15 μmol retinol/liver; P = 0.20). In study 2, the 60% raw Butobe group (0.68 ± 0.17 μmol retinol/liver) differed from the 60% cooked Butobe group (0.87 ± 0.24 μmol retinol/liver); neither group differed from baseline (0.80 ± 0.27 μmol retinol/liver; P < 0.0001). Total liver retinol was higher in the groups fed cooked bananas than in those fed raw (P = 0.0027). Body weights did not differ even though gerbils ate more green, ripe, and raw bananas than cooked, suggesting a greater indigestible component. In conclusion, thermal processing, but not ripening, improves the retinol bioefficacy of bananas. Food matrix modification affects carotenoid bioavailability from provitamin A biofortification targets.

The impact of the environment on health in Mongolia : a systematic review

Mongolia has significant exposure to environmental risk factors because of poor environmental management and behaviors, and children are increasingly vulnerable to these threats. This study aimed to assess levels of exposure and summarize the evidence for associations between exposures to environmental risk factors and adverse health outcomes in Mongolia, with a particular focus on children. A systematic review was conducted using the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health Library, CINAHL, CABI, Scopus, and mongolmed.mn electronic databases up to April 2014 . A total of 59 studies meeting the predetermined criteria were included. Results indicate that the Mongolian population has significant exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution, metals, environmental tobacco smoke, and other chemical toxins, and these risk factors have been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases among adults and respiratory diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders among children. Well-designed epidemiological investigations in vulnerable populations especially in pregnant women and children are recommended.

Die Personennamen und Titel der mittelmongolischen Dokumente : Eine lexikalische Untersuchung

The present research is an investigation into the corpus of personal names and titles that are found in sources from the Middle Mongolian period, that is the time from the 13th to the beginning of the 15th century. The entry for every name or title has been divided into three parts: occurence(s) of a given name in Middle Mongolian sources (primary sources), etymology, and occurence(s) in sources other than Middle Mongolian (secondary sources). Culturally and lingistically the corpus can be divided into six sub-groups: Mongolian, Turkic (Old, Middle and Modern), Arabo-Persian (Islamic), Indo-Iranian and Tibetan (Buddhist), as well as Chinese. Among these, the largest group is formed by Mongolian and Turkic, followed by Chinese (mostly titles), Indo-Iranian, Arabo-Persian and Tibetan. With regard to the primary and secondary occurences the research is based mainly on primary sources including text-publications and dictionaries. Every name or title is documented as completely as possible within a Central Asian framework. However, due to the divergency of the sources available as well as diachronical importance, each sub-group has been dealt with slightly differently, but consistently. The corpus of investigated names and titles gives a fairly correct picture of the multi-ethnical composition of the Mongolian world-empire. It also shows the foreign influences on Mongolian names and titles, being in this respect a mirror of the influences that are visible in other parts of the Middle Mongolian culture too. Furthermore, the investigated corpus reflects the transitory stage of the 13th to 15th century in Central Asian history, and includes thus material from the past (Indo-Iranian, Old and Middle Turkic), and material that points to the future (Arabo-Persian, Tibetan, Modern Turkic).

Anthropometric measures of obesity-their association with type 2 diabetes and hypertension across ethnic groups

Clinical trials have shown that weight reduction with lifestyles can delay or prevent diabetes and reduce blood pressure. An appropriate definition of obesity using anthropometric measures is useful in predicting diabetes and hypertension at the population level. However, there is debate on which of the measures of obesity is best or most strongly associated with diabetes and hypertension and on what are the optimal cut-off values for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in this regard. The aims of the study were 1) to compare the strength of the association for undiagnosed or newly diagnosed diabetes (or hypertension) with anthropometric measures of obesity in people of Asian origin, 2) to detect ethnic differences in the association of undiagnosed diabetes with obesity, 3) to identify ethnic- and sex-specific change point values of BMI and WC for changes in the prevalence of diabetes and 4) to evaluate the ethnic-specific WC cutoff values proposed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2005 for central obesity. The study population comprised 28 435 men and 35 198 women, ≥ 25 years of age, from 39 cohorts participating in the DECODA and DECODE studies, including 5 Asian Indian (n = 13 537), 3 Mauritian Indian (n = 4505) and Mauritian Creole (n = 1075), 8 Chinese (n =10 801), 1 Filipino (n = 3841), 7 Japanese (n = 7934), 1 Mongolian (n = 1991), and 14 European (n = 20 979) studies. The prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and central obesity was estimated, using descriptive statistics, and the differences were determined with the χ2 test. The odds ratios (ORs) or  coefficients (from the logistic model) and hazard ratios (HRs, from the Cox model to interval censored data) for BMI, WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-stature ratio (WSR) were estimated for diabetes and hypertension. The differences between BMI and WC, WHR or WSR were compared, applying paired homogeneity tests (Wald statistics with 1 df). Hierarchical three-level Bayesian change point analysis, adjusting for age, was applied to identify the most likely cut-off/change point values for BMI and WC in association with previously undiagnosed diabetes. The ORs for diabetes in men (women) with BMI, WC, WHR and WSR were 1.52 (1.59), 1.54 (1.70), 1.53 (1.50) and 1.62 (1.70), respectively and the corresponding ORs for hypertension were 1.68 (1.55), 1.66 (1.51), 1.45 (1.28) and 1.63 (1.50). For diabetes the OR for BMI did not differ from that for WC or WHR, but was lower than that for WSR (p = 0.001) in men while in women the ORs were higher for WC and WSR than for BMI (both p < 0.05). Hypertension was more strongly associated with BMI than with WHR in men (p < 0.001) and most strongly with BMI than with WHR (p < 0.001), WSR (p < 0.01) and WC (p < 0.05) in women. The HRs for incidence of diabetes and hypertension did not differ between BMI and the other three central obesity measures in Mauritian Indians and Mauritian Creoles during follow-ups of 5, 6 and 11 years. The prevalence of diabetes was highest in Asian Indians, lowest in Europeans and intermediate in others, given the same BMI or WC category. The  coefficients for diabetes in BMI (kg/m2) were (men/women): 0.34/0.28, 0.41/0.43, 0.42/0.61, 0.36/0.59 and 0.33/0.49 for Asian Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Mauritian Indian and European (overall homogeneity test: p > 0.05 in men and p < 0.001 in women). Similar results were obtained in WC (cm). Asian Indian women had lower  coefficients than women of other ethnicities. The change points for BMI were 29.5, 25.6, 24.0, 24.0 and 21.5 in men and 29.4, 25.2, 24.9, 25.3 and 22.5 (kg/m2) in women of European, Chinese, Mauritian Indian, Japanese, and Asian Indian descent. The change points for WC were 100, 85, 79 and 82 cm in men and 91, 82, 82 and 76 cm in women of European, Chinese, Mauritian Indian, and Asian Indian. The prevalence of central obesity using the 2005 IDF definition was higher in Japanese men but lower in Japanese women than in their Asian counterparts. The prevalence of central obesity was 52 times higher in Japanese men but 0.8 times lower in Japanese women compared to the National Cholesterol Education Programme definition. The findings suggest that both BMI and WC predicted diabetes and hypertension equally well in all ethnic groups. At the same BMI or WC level, the prevalence of diabetes was highest in Asian Indians, lowest in Europeans and intermediate in others. Ethnic- and sex-specific change points of BMI and WC should be considered in setting diagnostic criteria for obesity to detect undiagnosed or newly diagnosed diabetes.

蒙古枥红松动态及生物多样性主题信息标准的研究

（一）蒙古栎红松林动态的研究 本文综述了森林动态模型的基本概念和发展历史，把模型分为生长和演替模型两类，并比较了两类模型的特点和适用条件，详细论述了演替模型的基本原理，分析了早期和最新林窗模型的特点，给出了林窗模型的最新进展，指出森林动态模型的发展趋势为：①、为满足不同用户对模型的要求，模型应向综合总体方向发展;②、随着生理生态学的发展、试验仪器及分析方法的进步，和为了进一步认识森林动态变化的机理，建立树木生长机制过程模型成为另一个必然的发展方向。 随后综合分析了广泛应用于林窗模型中作为描述树高和直径关系的数学函数，通过理论分析和实际观测数据拟合及预测精度检验，表明理查德方程和单分子方程是森林动态林窗模型中描述树高和直径关系的最佳方程。 通过对蒙古栎红松林三个年龄阶段物种和结构动态实际观测数据分析表明，该类型森林的早期阶段以蒙古栎等阳性树种占优势，中期形成红松和阔叶树占优势的混交林，后期以红松占绝对优势。对该类型森林直径分布变化的研究得出：林分发育的早期，阔叶树中大径级木较多，针叶树中小径级木多;在林分发育的后期呈相反分布。用理论概率模型拟合直径分布表明，韦布尔概率分布模型是描述蒙古栎红松林直径分布的最合适函数。 在以上研究结果的基础上，以森林动态斑块理论为基础建立了蒙古栎红松林动态变化的林窗模型FOROAK，该模型包括对树木生长的生物学过程和影响树木生长的环境因子模拟两部分。运行模型用两种不同面积大小的样地分析森林动态，确定蒙古栎红松林林窗面积为0.05ha。以实际调查数据检验模型，证明所得模型能合理预测森林变化过程，在预测树种组成上精度很高。对裸地上森林的模拟表明蒙古栎红松林动态过程复杂，蒙古栎和白桦在林分发育开始占优势后期渐被红松取代。对现实原始林预测显示，森林未来300年变化稳定，红松株数和生物量变化很小。 最后，应用建立的林窗模型研究了同龄纯林林分密度动态，模拟了林分密度、断面积、生物量、叶面积指数和生产力150年的变化，用林分密度效应的3/2法则和产量恒定法则检验模拟结果表明，模拟的林分密度发展与理论预测相符合，通过本文的研究既检验了林窗动态模型又印证了林分密度效应理论。 （二）生物多样性主题信息标准的研究 中国是世界上生物多样性最丰富的国家之一，在多年的调查、研究和保护工作中，已积累了大量的数据资料，因此，被联合国环境规划署挑选参加“发展中国家生物多样性数据管理能力建设及信息系统网络化”项目，该项目的主要内容之一就是了解与生物多样性有关领域的主题信息标准。 主题信息标准部分讨论了生物多样性信息的收集、管理和转换标准，系统而全面地概述了生物多样性有关领域应用的数据分类系统、核心数据集以及与数据获得有关的术语、定义和数据模型，并讨论了各部门在研究和促进生物多样性信息标准化方面的成果和正在开展的工作。涉及的领域有自然和人工生境中的陆地植被、农业、林业、湿地、海岸和海洋，还有保护区、物种和对生物多样性有威胁的因子等专题。 文中讲述了与陆地植被分类有关的土地利用方式和土地覆盖分类等问题，并给出了国际国内应用广泛的植被分类系统。讨论了农业中与生物多样性有直接关系的分类系统，包括土地分类系统、土壤分类系统等。从森林生态系统和土地利用、林权和林政、森林资源调查、评价和监测、森林利用和经营实践、森林环境和可持续发展等几方面讨论了这些主题的概念、术语和数量划分标准。 讨论了湿地分类系统的发展，列举了国内外应用广泛的分类系统。论述了海岸和海洋生境及保护区的分类系统和标准，给出了数据定义和模型。列举了国内外广泛应用的物种命名标准和其发展过程。分遗传多样性、物种多样性和生态系统多样性三个层次讨论了它们受威胁的特点和评价现状，最后分别不同的威胁因子，如：生境丧失和片断化、全球气候变化、酸雨、臭氧层破坏和有毒污染物讨论了它们对生物多样性的威胁特点和评价现状。

内蒙古典型草原群落SPAC系统水运动的观测与仿真

草原不仅是陆地生态系统重要的一种类型，而且是人类赖以生存的畜牧业基地。由于草原多处于半干旱区，所以研究草原生态系统的水循环、水利用非常重要。本文对我国内蒙古草原区一个典型的群落－羊草群落的水分运动特征进行了定位观测，并在对这些观测结果进行分析的基础上，对土壤－植物－大气连续体（Soil-Plant-Atomosphere Continuum, SPAC）内的水流运动过程进行了仿真。 气孔是草原生态系统SPAC水流运动中最大的阻力项，是制约SPAC内水流通量的“瓶颈”，因此要想对该系统进行仿真首先必须建立精确的气孔导度（阻力）模型。根据1998～1999观测，羊草气孔导度主要受0～40cm土壤含水量的影响，在日的时间尺度上，用普通的线性回归模型对日均气孔导度就可以实现精确的预测，R~2可以达到96％，但是在小时的时间尺度上，仅用0～40cm土壤含水量是不够的，必须同时考虑其它环境因子的作用、构建具有一定机理基础的模型才能达到较为理想的模拟精度。现有的具有机理性质的气孔导度模型大致可以分为“Jarvis-类”和“BWB模型”（或“光合－导度”模型）。但是它们都没有充分考虑土壤水分因素对气孔导度的重要作用，所以这不符和草原区的实际情况。本文构建了一个考虑土壤水分因素的气孔导度模型，并分析了环境因素之间的互作对气孔导度的影响程度，最后这个模型被应用到了SPAC系统能量平衡和蒸散过程的模拟中去。 在降水量正常的情况下，例如1999年（年降水量344mm），羊草群落的显热通量明显高于潜热通量;在特别干旱的情况下，例如 1997年（年降水量仅280mm左右），白天甚至可能出现潜热的逆向传递;但是在湿润的年份，例如1998年（年降水量507mm），潜热通量却与显热通量相当。 在模拟植物蒸腾和群落的蒸散时需要分析叶片和冠层能量平衡，此时，往往需要简化处理，为了使这种简化更符合实际情况，所以根据羊草叶片红外辐射温度的实测结果，对羊草叶片上的能量平衡进行了分析。结果表明，太阳短波辐射对叶片能量总收入的贡献率小于30％，而来自地表和天空的长波辐射却古总收入的约74％。叶片的热辐射为双向，占叶片能量总支出的约90％。显热与潜热交换的总和才占叶片能量总支出的10％，而且在所测的时间点上两者的平均值相近，各占5％左右。在能量平衡的各分量中，长波辐射部分表现为净支出，因而可以假设短波辐射为叶片的唯一能量来源。此时，热辐射消耗其中的59％，显热潜热消耗40.1％。 将冠层分成上中下三层，分别模拟了这三层叶片以及土壤表面的能量平衡动态。与实测的各层红外辐射温度进行了对比，发现模型预测的冠层温度值与实测值的相关性良好，但是对中下层叶片温度的预测偏低。对土壤表面温度的模拟效果不好。 由于1998年降水量很大，根据蒸渗仪的观测，2m土体出现了渗漏。渗漏的出现，使得生长季末0～2m土壤贮水量与生长季初相比不但没有增加，反而减少。由于渗漏使得80～120cm土层内的粗细交界面得以贯通，该层对其上层土壤水头的蓄持能力下降，所以在1999年即使降雨强度不大也会造成渗漏的再次发生，这使得1999年生长季各月份水分平衡表现为较大的净支出。因此，实现SPAC水流成功模拟应该考虑土壤质地的成层性，以及渗漏的问题。 根据1998年波文比、涡度相关和蒸发渗漏仪联合实验的结果，对三种方法监测内蒙古草原群落蒸散的适用性进行了分析。三种仪器逐时、逐日蒸散回归关系极显著（P＝0.000），但是涡度相关的测量值往往低于其它两者。分析认为蒸发渗漏仪在逐日或者更长的取样时间间隔上能够达到足够的精度，适合于作为长期监测内蒙古草原群落蒸散量的工具，但是，由于受风压等随机因素的影响，不适用于逐时或逐分的测量。波文比在无对流逆温的天气里可以精确地测定逐刻和逐时的潜热通量，适合于作为短期的监测工具，但在更复杂的气象条件下波动幅度较涡度相关大。涡度相关法能在较复杂的天气条件下稳定地反映逐刻、逐时和逐日的潜热通量变化。但是，在内蒙古草原区现实的野外条件下，涡度相关法尚难以作为长期蒸散监测的工具。 除了对上述三,种观测方法进行比对外，还有波文比与Penman-Moteith公式、涡度相关法与Penman-Moteith公式对蒸散的监测进行了对比，发现Penman-Monteith公式在1998和1999年都低估了蒸散。分析认为，对总蒸散的低估可能来自对土表蒸发的低估。 本文最后还对SPAC系统水流各部分的模拟进行了整合，希望得到一个对整个系统的水流循环进行动态仿真的模型。

冷蒿和糙隐子草的竞争策略对冷蒿退化草原恢复过程的影响

有很多因子调控植物群落中哪些物种存在或是哪些缺失，评价这些因子中某些因子的重要性因为因子间潜在的交互作用而变得十分复杂。已经有很多人对内蒙古典型草原生态系统的结构和功能进行了研究，这个系统的植物群落易受多种相互交互的因子影响，其中包括干旱、动物粪尿斑、放牧家畜的采食以及物理干扰等。一些研究认为在大气条件一致的区域内，牧压对群落施加的影响可以超越不同地段其它环境因子的影响，成为控制群落特征的主导因子。因而内蒙古典型草原群落的演替主要是由在一定放牧压力维持下不同植物种群的消长来实现的。但是对于在多个因子相互作用下的内蒙古草原的演替机制并没有得到很好的认识。采食伴随着土壤养分的变化交互到一起影响植物群落的结构动态和组成。本论文采用野外和室内可控试验相结合的方法，选取不同演替阶段的优势物种冷蒿（小半灌木、直根系、C3植物，在重度放牧区占统治地位）和糙隐子草（小丛生禾草、须根系、C4植物，中度放牧区的下层优势钟）为研究对象，对内蒙古草原放牧演替的机制进行了探讨。希望这些信息有助于我们理解内蒙古草原退化的机理，并对内蒙古草原潜在的恢复措施提供一些有意义的建议。 本文提出三个假设：第一，退化草原土壤养分亏缺，因此养分利用率高的物种将占优势，并成为优势物种;第二，在轻度刈割或是不刈割条件下，糙隐子草的竞争能力将加强，施肥也将有利于增加糙隐子草的竞争能力;第三，冷蒿高的竞争能力而不是放牧忍耐力决定冷蒿在过度放牧样地占统治地位。 我们得到的结论如下： 通过三年的恢复，在原过牧区并没有发现很低的氮素养分，恰恰相反，土壤的微生物态氮和土壤无机氮含量较高。冷蒿的养分利用效率较低（以每形成100g碳所需的养分量计算），但在退化草原却是优势物种。因此否定了第一个假设。恢复四年后，糙隐子草在群落中所占的比例仍然很低，恢复过程中糙隐子草并没有成为优势种。同样的，温室内模拟放牧试验的结果与野外数据结果相符。即：同冷蒿相比,糙隐子草在各氮水平和各刈割强度下始终是一个弱的竞争者。在分析竞争能力时，施氮和刈割之间有交互作用。刈割对两物种竞争能力的影响不显著，但随着氮肥水平的提高，在所有刈割强度下，冷蒿对糙隐子草的相对竞争力下降。因此部分支持第二个假设。冷蒿高的种间竞争能力（高的生物量、高的氮产量、高的氮素吸收速率以及高的氮素回收率）决定其在退化草原成为优势种。此外，冷蒿能够成为重牧地段的优势物种可能也归因于其很强的空间拓殖能力、避食机制、干旱的忍耐能力、根系的生态位分异、高的种子生产能力以及可能存在的它感作用。而糙隐子草能够较经济的利用养分和具有较好的放牧抗性是它能与冷蒿在一定的放牧压力下共存的原因。因此，我们的研究结果支持第三个假设。

开垦和放牧对内蒙古草原土壤碳库和温室气体通量的影响

本文采用野外观测和室内测定相结合的方法，研究了内蒙古草原两种主要的土地利用方式（开垦和放牧）对土壤碳库和温室气体通量的影响，结果如下： 1．内蒙古草甸草原开垦后30年后，与天然草原相比，在休闲年份0～20 cm土壤有机碳和土壤微生物量碳含量均没有显著下降，但开垦导致土壤易分解碳下降了24%。土壤易氧化碳受季节性水热因子的驱动，表现出明显的季节变化动态。因此，土壤易分解碳的较土壤碳库的其他组分对开垦更敏感，是表征土壤管理措施引起有机质变化的一个重要指标。 草原开垦后，土壤-植物系统氧化大气甲烷的能力明显提高，农田和天然草原CH4平均吸收通量分别是48.9 和 29.0 μg C m-2 h-1，开垦后增加了1.7倍。开垦没有改变CH4吸收通量 “夏季高秋季低” 的季节变化规律（由降水决定）;开垦使N2O的平均释放通量增加了47%，农田和天然草原N2O平均吸收通量分别是56.6 和 38.6 ugN m-2 h-1;开垦同时也增大了通量的变异幅度;但没有改变N2O季节变化规律，只是出现高峰的时间较天然草原推后约10天左右。 2．开垦后的农田土壤在模拟添加厩肥后，刺激了土壤微生物的呼吸代谢，使CO2的释放量增加了5-7倍。试验期间总体排放的CO2中，约60%来源于羊粪，40% 来源于土壤。两种土壤即羊草顶级草原土壤（高碳高氮）和冷蒿－小禾草退化草原土壤（低碳低氮），在CO2的释放总量和释放比例上都没有显著性差异。添加厩肥均造成两种土壤碳库的净碳损失，并且退化草原土壤（7.0%）的土壤净碳损失要大于羊草草原（2.6%）。说明与开垦后的高C土壤相比，在已经退化草原的低C土壤上施厩肥将趋向于土壤更大的净碳损失。 3．自由放牧22年后，羊草草原0～10 cm土壤有机碳、微生物量碳和易分解碳分别下降了14.1%、27.9%和22.0%;大针茅草原0～5 cm土壤有机碳和微生物量碳分别下降了27.6%和38.2%。两类草原土壤碳组分的季节变化受水热因子的驱动，大针茅草原季节波动出现高峰的时间较羊草草原迟。土壤微生物量碳在表征羊草草原和大针茅草原土壤碳素的动态变化时，要敏感于土壤总有机碳。放牧对冷蒿-小禾草草原土壤各碳素组分影响不明显。在表征放牧对冷蒿-小禾草草原土壤的影响指示上，MB-C/ Org-C和Lab-C/ Org-C要比MB-C和Lab-C更加敏感。这说明在研究放牧对草原土壤碳库影响时，不同的草原类型应使用不同的指标来表征其变化。 内蒙古羊草草原是大气CH4的汇，自由放牧增加土壤对CH4的吸收。CH4平均吸收通量增加了27%，但CH4吸收的季节变化形式没有改变;放牧使。自由放牧还增大了N2O的排放通量，将原来N2O源、汇的双重功能改变为单一的源功能;放牧使N2O平均释放通量增加了1倍;放牧显著增加了羊草草原向大气排放CO2的量（p<0.05），并且年度排放量范围也有所增大。 4．草原羊尿斑土壤的pH和NH4+浓度在施后显著升高，但土壤微生物C和N没有明显变化，尿斑N素会发生大量的流失。粪斑和厩肥斑中各有46%和27%的N素分解后转移到植物中。羊草种群斑块上粪尿斑引起CO2和N2O通量的变化，要大于星毛委陵菜种群斑块。与植被类型的影响相比，羊粪尿斑尤其是尿斑对温室气体通量的影响更大。尿斑既降低了土壤对CH4的吸收，又增加了CO2和N2O的释放，使粪尿斑上相当于CO2的净排放量比对照土壤增加了15%。 在内蒙古草原中等放牧条件下，家畜粪尿斑在放牧草地上的覆盖面积约只有2%，与未被家畜排泄物覆盖的草原土壤 相比，粪尿斑对内蒙古草原温室气体总体收支产生的影响可以忽略不计。因此内蒙古草原地区温室气体减排措施的重点，应放在家畜的食性食量对温室气体的影响以及厩肥的科学利用上。但随放牧强度的加大，家畜排泄物覆盖草地的面积将大大增加，加之放牧生态系统中家畜瘤胃代谢产生的的大量温室气体，其对草原温室气体的核算将会产生的影响也是不容忽视的。

内蒙古草原中生物土壤结皮生态学研究

1. 生物土壤结皮是干旱半干旱生态系统中的重要组成部分，它可通过增加土壤肥力和稳定性、影响水分再分配和植物萌发、成活、生长和繁殖而对生态系统结构和功能产生重要影响。为阐明生物结皮在内蒙古草地中的作用，本报告对两个草地生态系统进行了为期三年的调查，对生物结皮的氮素输入、对放牧的响应及其与植物的关系进行了综合研究。 2. 利用乙炔还原法，本研究对内蒙古退化草地中的生物土壤结皮中的蓝藻、地衣和地耳的氮素输入进行了为期30个月的连续测定。研究发现：1) 生物结皮固氮活性主要集中于5-10月，呈单峰型曲线，表明生物土壤结皮的固氮作用主要受温度和降雨影响;2) 生物结皮年固氮量为12.99-129.9 kg N•ha-1，98%的氮素固定于6-9月份;3) 按固氮量排序，蓝藻 (61%) > 地衣 (33%) > 地耳 (6%)，表明物种组成和丰度对生物结皮的氮素输入具重要影响。生物结皮的固氮量和季节变化表明生物结皮可以是影响退化草地中植物生长和促进退化草地恢复的重要影响因子。 3. 本研究选择三个放牧处理（长期放牧、短期围封和近期放牧）对生物结皮固氮活性进行了为期3年的研究。结果表明，与短期围封相比，长期放牧造成生物土壤结皮固氮活性下降了99.5%。固氮活性在放牧时间不足11个月时即可下降至最低水平，因此，放牧持续时间短于4个月的轮牧可能有利于生物土壤结皮的固氮。 4. 本研究选择6个放牧梯度（对照：0.00 羊/公顷, 极轻度放牧：1.33羊/公顷，轻度放牧：2.67羊/公顷，中度放牧：4.00羊/公顷，重度放牧：5.33羊/公顷，极重度放牧：6.67羊/公顷)，研究放牧强度对于生物结皮丰度、物种组成和固氮输入的影响。不同放牧强度对生物结皮丰度、物种组成和固氮输入具有重要影响，表明长期放牧可抑制生物土壤结皮在氮素输入和土壤固定方面的作用。极轻度放牧对生物土壤结皮影响不大;轻度放牧造成氮素输入降低了50%;重度和极重度放牧造成氮素输入降低了90%，并可使移动性较强的物种成为生物土壤结皮的优势组分，从而可抑制其土壤固定作用。因此，极轻度和轻度放牧是有利于生物土壤结皮固氮和固定土壤的草地利用方式。 5. 在处于恢复早期的一个退化草地中，我们对生物结皮和植物之间的关系进行了为期2年的研究。结果表明，生物结皮的丰度和物种组成与植物地上生物量和盖度高度相关。生物结皮丰度和氮素输入随植物生物量和盖度下降。结果还表明生物结皮是退化草地的主要氮素输入来源，尤其是在草地恢复初期。植物组织δ15N 低于土壤，这种差异随植物生产力增高而减小，表明生物结皮所固定氮素首先被植物利用，而后返回土壤。生物结皮的固氮输入变化可能是这种变化模式的主要原因，在分解作用和氮素损失中的同位素分馏，以及菌根真菌对于氮素的转运可能也是这种变化模式的原因。结果还显示生物土壤结皮与植物之间可能存在负反馈关系。这种自我调节的反馈过程可能是影响退化草地生态系统生产力和氮素循环的重要调节机制。