Aboveground plant biomass from the Jena Experiment (Monocultures, year 2009)

This data set contains aboveground plant biomass in 2009 (Sown plant community, Weed plant community, Dead plant material, and Unidentified plant material; all measured in biomass as dry weight) of the monoculture plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment). In the monoculture plots the biomass of the sown plant community contains only a single species per plot and this species is a different one for each plot. Which species has been sown in which plot is stated in the plot information table for monocultures (see further details below). The monoculture plots of 3.5 x 3.5 m were established for all of the 60 plant species of the Jena Experiment species pool with two replicates per species. One of the replicate plots per species was given up after the vegetation period of 2007 for all but the nine species belonging also to the so called dominance experiment in Jena. These nine species are: Alopecurus pratensis, Anthriscus sylvestris, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Geranium pratense, Poa trivialis, Phleum pratense, Trifolium repens and Trifolium pratense.In 2008 plot size was reduced to 2.5 x 2.5 m. These 60 species comprising the species pool of the Jena Experiment belong to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). Plots were sown in May 2002 and are since maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. Aboveground plant biomass was harvested twice in 2009 just prior to mowing (during peak standing biomass in early June and in late August) on all experimental plots of the monocultures. This was done by clipping the vegetation at 3 cm above ground in 2 rectangles of 0.2 x 0.5 m per plot. The location of these rectangles was in the center of the plot area. The positions of the rectangles within plots were identical for all plots. The harvested biomass was sorted into categories: sown plant species, weed plant species (species not sown at the particular plot), detached dead plant material (i.e., dead plant material in the data file), and remaining plant material that could not be assigned to any category (i.e., unidentified plant material in the data file). All biomass was dried to constant weight (70°C, >= 48 h) and weighed. The data for individual subsamples (i.e. rectangles) and the mean over samples for all biomass measures are given.

Aboveground plant biomass from the Jena Experiment (Monocultures, year 2002)

This data set contains aboveground plant biomass in 2002 (Sown plant community; measured in biomass as dry weight) of the monoculture plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment). In the monoculture plots the biomass of the sown plant community contains only a single species per plot and this species is a different one for each plot. Which species has been sown in which plot is stated in the plot information table for monocultures (see further details below). The monoculture plots of 3.5 x 3.5 m were established for all of the 60 plant species of the Jena Experiment species pool with two replicates per species. These 60 species comprising the species pool of the Jena Experiment belong to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). Plots were sown in May 2002 and are since maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. Aboveground plant biomass was harvested twice in 2002 just prior to mowing (during peak standing biomass in early June and in late August) on all experimental plots of the monocultures. This was done by clipping the vegetation at 3 cm above ground in 2 rectangles of 0.2 x 0.5 m per plot. The location of these rectangles was assigned prior to each harvest by random selection of coordinates within the core area of the plots (i.e. excluding an outer edge of 0.5 m). The positions of the rectangles within plots were identical for all plots. From the harvested biomass only the separated biomass of the sown plant species was kept. All biomass was dried to constant weight (70°C, >= 48 h) and weighed. The data for individual subsamples (i.e. rectangles) and the mean over samples for all biomass measures are given.

Aboveground plant biomass from the Jena Experiment (Monocultures, year 2004)

This data set contains aboveground plant biomass in 2004 (Sown plant community, Weed plant community, Dead plant material, and Unidentified plant material; all measured in biomass as dry weight) of the monoculture plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment). In the monoculture plots the biomass of the sown plant community contains only a single species per plot and this species is a different one for each plot. Which species has been sown in which plot is stated in the plot information table for monocultures (see further details below). The monoculture plots of 3.5 x 3.5 m were established for all of the 60 plant species of the Jena Experiment species pool with two replicates per species. These 60 species comprising the species pool of the Jena Experiment belong to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). Plots were sown in May 2002 and are since maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. Aboveground plant biomass was harvested twice in 2004 just prior to mowing (during peak standing biomass in early June and in late August) on all experimental plots of the monocultures. This was done by clipping the vegetation at 3 cm above ground in 2 rectangles of 0.2 x 0.5 m per plot. The location of these rectangles was assigned prior to each harvest by random selection of coordinates within the core area of the plots (i.e. excluding an outer edge of 0.5 m). The positions of the rectangles within plots were identical for all plots. The harvested biomass was sorted into categories: sown plant species, weed plant species (species not sown at the particular plot), detached dead plant material (i.e., dead plant material in the data file), and remaining plant material that could not be assigned to any category (i.e., unidentified plant material in the data file). All biomass was dried to constant weight (70°C, >= 48 h) and weighed. The data for individual subsamples (i.e. rectangles) and the mean over samples for all biomass measures are given.

Genetic Diversity of Oilseed Rape Fields and Feral Populations in the Context of Coexistence with GM Crops

Despite growing concern about transgenes escaping from fields, few studies have analysed the genetic diversity of crops in an agroecosystem over several years. Accurate information about the dynamics and relationship of the genetic diversity of crops in an agroecosystem is essential for risk assessment and policies concerning the containment of genetically modified crops and their coexistence with crops grown by conventional practices. Here, we analysed the genetic diversity of oilseed rape plants from fields and feral populations over 4 years in an agricultural landscape of 41 km2. We used exact compatibility and maximum likelihood assignment methods to assign these plants to cultivars. Even pure lines and hybrid cultivar seed lots contained several genotypes. The cultivar diversity in fields reflected the conventional view of agroecosystems quite well: that is, there was a succession of cultivars, some grown for longer than others because of their good performance, some used for one year and then abandoned, and others gradually adopted. Three types of field emerged: fields sown with a single cultivar, fields sown with two cultivars, and unassigned fields (too many cultivars or unassigned plants to reliably assign the field). Field plant diversity was higher than expected, indicating the persistence of cultivars that were grown for only one year. The cultivar composition of feral populations was similar to that of field plants, with an increasing number of cultivars each year. By using genetic tools, we found a link between the cultivars of field plants in a particular year and the cultivars of feral population plants in the following year. Feral populations on road verges were more diverse than those on path verges. All of these findings are discussed in terms of their consequences in the context of coexistence with genetically modified crops.

INFLUENCE OF A NATIVE INSECTARY PLANT, CHAMAECRISTA FASCICULATA (MICHX.) ON ORGANIC FIELD CORN AND ARTHROPOD COMMUNITIES

Increasing plant diversity in conventionally monoculture agrosystems has been promoted as a method to enhance beneficial arthropod density and efficacy, suppress herbivory and provide a range of ecosystem services. I investigated the pest suppressive potential and economic impact of plant diversification in organic field corn. The experiment consisted of two treatments, corn grown in monoculture (C) and bordered by strips of partridge pea (PP). Pest and natural enemy populations, corn damage, yield, and profits were compared among treatments. Natural enemy and herbivore arthropod populations were affected by treatment and distance from plot border. Corn damage due to pests was also affected by treatment and location, but did not significantly affect yield. Yield in monoculture plots was generally greater than in PP but did not result in greater profit. Pest and natural enemy arthropod abundances were elevated in partridge pea treatment borders, but these populations did not consistently diffuse into plot interiors. The potential causes and implications of findings are discussed.

Predicting invasion in grassland ecosystems: is exotic dominance the real embarrassment of richness?

Invasions have increased the size of regional species pools, but are typically assumed to reduce native diversity. However, global-scale tests of this assumption have been elusive because of the focus on exotic species richness, rather than relative abundance. This is problematic because low invader richness can indicate invasion resistance by the native community or, alternatively, dominance by a single exotic species. Here, we used a globally replicated study to quantify relationships between exotic richness and abundance in grass-dominated ecosystems in 13 countries on six continents, ranging from salt marshes to alpine tundra. We tested effects of human land use, native community diversity, herbivore pressure, and nutrient limitation on exotic plant dominance. Despite its widespread use, exotic richness was a poor proxy for exotic dominance at low exotic richness, because sites that contained few exotic species ranged from relatively pristine (low exotic richness and cover) to almost completely exotic-dominated ones (low exotic richness but high exotic cover). Both exotic cover and richness were predicted by native plant diversity (native grass richness) and land use (distance to cultivation). Although climate was important for predicting both exotic cover and richness, climatic factors predicting cover (precipitation variability) differed from those predicting richness (maximum temperature and mean temperature in the wettest quarter). Herbivory and nutrient limitation did not predict exotic richness or cover. Exotic dominance was greatest in areas with low native grass richness at the site- or regional-scale. Although this could reflect native grass displacement, a lack of biotic resistance is a more likely explanation, given that grasses comprise the most aggressive invaders. These findings underscore the need to move beyond richness as a surrogate for the extent of invasion, because this metric confounds monodominance with invasion resistance. Monitoring species' relative abundance will more rapidly advance our understanding of invasions.

Resilience of a high-conservation-value, semi-arid grassland on fertile clay soils to burning, mowing and ploughing.

In grassland reserves, managed disturbance is often necessary to maintain plant species diversity. We carried out experiments to determine the impact of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing and disc ploughing on grassland species richness and composition in a nature reserve in semi-arid eastern Australia. Vegetation response was influenced by winter-spring drought after establishment of the experiments, but moderate rainfall followed in late summer-autumn. Species composition varied greatly between sampling times, and the variability due to rainfall differences between seasons and years was greater than the effects of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing or disc ploughing. In the fire experiment, species richness and composition recovered more rapidly after spring than autumn burning. Species richness and composition were similar to control sites within 12 months of burning and mowing, suggesting that removal of the dominant grass canopy is unnecessary to enhance plant diversity. Two fires (separated by 3 years) and post-fire kangaroo grazing had only minor influence on species richness and composition. Even disc ploughing caused only a small reduction in native richness. The minor impact of ploughing was explained by the small areas that were ploughed, the once-off nature of the treatment, and the high degree of natural movement and cracking in these shrink-swell soils. Recovery of the composition and richness of these grasslands was rapid because of the high proportion of perennial species that resprout vegetatively after fire and mowing. There appears to be little conservation benefit from fire, mowing or ploughing ungrazed areas, as we could identify no native plant species dependent on frequent disturbance for persistence in this grassland community. However, the ability of the Astrebla- and Dichanthium-dominated grasslands to recover quickly after disturbance, given favourable seasonal conditions, suggests that they are well adapted to natural disturbances (e.g. droughts, fire, flooding and native grazing).

Vegetation structure and floristic composition of a tropical dry deciduous forest in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, India

A permanent 2 ha (200 m x 100 m) plot was established for long-term monitoring of plant diversity and dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, southern India. Enumeration of all woody plants >= 1 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) yielded a total of 1766 individuals that belonged to 46 species, 37 genera and 24 families. Combretaceae was the most abundant family in the forest with a family importance value of 68.3. Plant density varied from 20 - 90 individuals with an average 35 individuals/quadrat (20 m x 20 m). Randia dumetorum, with 466 individuals (representing 26.7 % of the total density 2 ha(-1)) with species importance value of 36.25, was the dominant species in the plot. The total basal area of the plot was 18.09 m(2) ha(-1) with a mean of 0.72 m(2) quadrat(-1). The highest basal area of the plot was contributed by Combretaceae (12.93 m(2) 2 ha(-1)) at family level and Terminalia tomentosa (5.58 m(2) 2 ha(-1)) at species level. The lowest diameter class (1-10 cm) had the highest density (1054 individuals 2 ha(-1)), but basal area was highest in the 80 - 90 cm diameter class (5.03m(2) 2 ha(-1)). Most of the species exhibited random or aggregated distribution over the plot. This study provides a baseline information on the dry forests of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.

Biomass gasification: Environmentally sound technology for decentralized power generation, a case study from India

This study aims at understanding the need for decentralized power generation systems and to explore the potential, feasibility and environmental implications of biomass gasifier-based electricity generation systems for village electrification. Electricity needs of villages are in the range of 5–20 kW depending on the size of the village. Decentralized power generation systems are desirable for low load village situations as the cost of power transmission lines is reduced and transmission and distribution losses are minimised. A biomass gasifier-based electricity generation system is one of the feasible options; the technology is readily available and has already been field tested. To meet the lighting and stationary power needs of 500,000 villages in India the land required is only 16 Mha compared to over 100 Mha of degraded land available for tree planting. In fact all the 95 Mt of woody biomass required for gasification could be obtained through biomass conservation programmes such as biogas and improved cook stoves. Thus dedication of land for energy plantations may not be required. A shift to a biomass gasifier-based power generation system leads to local benefits such as village self reliance, local employment and skill generation and promotion of in situ plant diversity plus global benefits like no net CO2 emission (as sustainable biomass harvests are possible) and a reduction in CO2 emissions (when used to substitute thermal power and diesel in irrigation pump sets).

Impacts of climate change and management responses in tropical forests depend on complex frugivore-mediated seed dispersal

AimBiodiversity outcomes under global change will be influenced by a range of ecological processes, and these processes are increasingly being considered in models of biodiversity change. However, the level of model complexity required to adequately account for important ecological processes often remains unclear. Here we assess how considering realistically complex frugivore-mediated seed dispersal influences the projected climate change outcomes for plant diversity in the Australian Wet Tropics (all 4313 species). LocationThe Australian Wet Tropics, Queensland, Australia. MethodsWe applied a metacommunity model (M-SET) to project biodiversity outcomes using seed dispersal models that varied in complexity, combined with alternative climate change scenarios and habitat restoration scenarios. ResultsWe found that the complexity of the dispersal model had a larger effect on projected biodiversity outcomes than did dramatically different climate change scenarios. Applying a simple dispersal model that ignored spatial, temporal and taxonomic variation due to frugivore-mediated seed dispersal underestimated the reduction in the area of occurrence of plant species under climate change and overestimated the loss of diversity in fragmented tropical forest remnants. The complexity of the dispersal model also changed the habitat restoration approach identified as the best for promoting persistence of biodiversity under climate change. Main conclusionsThe consideration of complex processes such as frugivore-mediated seed dispersal can make an important difference in how we understand and respond to the influence of climate change on biodiversity.

Vegetação e arquitetura das espécies de restinga associadas à ocorrência de Formicivora littoralis (Aves,Thamnophilidae)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo central conhecer a composição florística, a estrutura e a arquitetura das espécies da formação arbustiva fechada pós-praia e investigar possíveis associações com Formicivora littoralis, considerando tática de forrageamento, construção de ninhos e abundância da ave. F. littoralis é endêmica de restingas, e está ameaçada de extinção devido a perda acelerada de habitat. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre a vegetação em que ela ocorre, principalmente sobre as áreas de maior abundância da ave localizadas na formação Arbustiva Fechada Pós-praia (AFP) da Restinga da Massambaba, as quais estão inseridas em um Centro de Diversidade Vegetal (CDV) na Região de Cabo Frio. Diante disto, este estudo foi realizado em dois trechos desta formação na Restinga da Massambaba, nos municípios de Araruama e Arraial do Cabo, RJ, Brasil. Foram efetuadas 60 excursões a campo, com coletas aleatórias realizadas ao longo de toda a formação, geração de 20 parcelas de 2x50 m (0,2ha) perpendiculares ao mar, incluindo na amostragem indivíduos com DAP e DAS ≥2,5, estes, foram ainda categorizados em modelos de arquitetura de ramificação considerando número de ramos em dois patamares de altura (DAP e DAS). O levantamento florístico resultou em 327 coletas de 160 espécies, sendo pelo menos 12 espécies vegetais sob algum estado de ameaça, inclusive redescoberta uma Salicaceae (Casearia sessiliflora). Orchidaceae, Leguminosae e Myrtaceae foram as famílias mais ricas. Foram acrescentados 75% mais espécies na lista preliminar da AFP na Massambaba, além de 14 novos registros para o CDV de Cabo Frio. Na estrutura e arquitetura foram analisados 906 indivíduos de 58 espécies. Sendo os maiores valores de importância de Pilosocereus arrabidae (42,30) e Chrysophyllum lucentifolium (23,45). A diversidade de Shannon foi de 3,46 e equabilidade de 0,85. A arquitetura da maior parte dos indivíduos foi complexa, 58% de indivíduos com múltiplas ramificações, e as espécies apresentando variados padrões de ramificação. A densidade populacional de F. littoralis na AFP foi elevada, sendo estimada em 172 ind/km2. A arquitetura da AFP tem influência na ecologia da ave, pois ela foi generalista quanto à espécie utilizada como suporte na construção de ninhos e também para as táticas de forrageamento, mas houve seleção de ramos finos que formavam na horizontal ângulos de até 90 de abertura para construir ninhos. Ramos finos e mais horizontais também foram utilizados com frequência para as táticas de forrageamento. A abundância de F. littoralis esteve correlacionada positivamente à diversidade vegetal e negativamente à altura da vegetação, características marcantes nesta formação. Além disso, elevada taxa de vegetais com síndrome de dispersão zoocórica indica a importância desta formação na oferta de recursos alimentícios para a fauna e atração de pequenos artrópodes, os quais fazem parte da dieta de F. littoralis.

城市化影响下北京植物多样性现状与保护对策研究

城市化是引起生物多样性降低的主要原因之一，因此，应特别注意城市区域和城市化过程中的生物多样性保护。北京近三十年来经历了最为持久的城市化过程，城市的迅速扩张，人口的快速增加和经济的蓬勃发展给北京的生态环境带了巨大的压力，也给生物多样性工作带来了巨大的挑战。为有效开展生物多样性保护工作，迫切需要开展北京生物多样性现状及保护对策的研究。北京市以前在生物多样性方面作过大量工作，但缺乏系统的整理。本文通过深入的现场调查和对已有文献资料的整理，对当前北京市维管植物多样性现状及问题作了分析，并提出相应对策，以期为北京生物多样性保护工作提供参考。主要内容如下： 1．北京市自然生态系统主要有森林生态系统、灌丛生态系统、草甸生态系统和湿地生态系统4种类型。在人类长期干扰下，各生态系统多为次生。目前森林生态系统面积逐步扩大，而草甸生态系统和湿地生态系统受人为活动破坏严重，呈现严重退化趋势。 2．整理关于北京物种新纪录的各种文献，结合野外调查，构建了北京维管植物多样性数据库。北京维管植物多样性比较丰富，已知维管植物有2276种，然而特有性不强，严格属于北京特有维管束植物仅有5种。境内共分布有25种国家重点保护植物，包括野大豆、紫椴、河北梨以及22种野生兰科植物。根据调查资料初步评估，确定40种植物在北京处于受威胁状态。 3．根据北京人口密度、城市人口比例以及建设土地比例，将北京市按城市化程度的高低划分为城区，近郊区、远郊区三个区域。物种丰富度以远郊区最高，城区次之，近郊区最低，而外来物种比例则以城区最高，远郊区最低。城区分布有北京市93%以上的外来种，是其物种丰富度较近郊区为高的原因之一。对北京市特有植物、受危植物、国家保护植物和北京市保护植物的分布的分析表明，远郊区分布有93%以上的上述植物，是北京市生物多样性的重点保护区域，而城区和近郊区也分别分布有近1/4和1/3，说明保护稀有濒危物种方面，城区和近郊区也不容忽视。 4．对北京市外来植物作了分析，认为北京有126种归化植物，其中47种为入侵植物。菊科、禾本科、大戟科和苋科在入侵植物中占优势，美洲为最大起源地，其次为欧洲。园艺苗木引种是入侵物种的主要侵入途径，导致海淀、丰台、西城、朝阳等城区分布有较多的入侵种。 5．对外来物种火炬树的地理分布格局和入侵潜力作了研究。火炬树在人为大力推广下已遍布各风景区，在公路两侧也常见分布并侵入农田，甚至出现在某些自然保护区。火炬树在贫瘠和肥沃生境下均具有较高的繁殖速度，在3年内靠克隆繁殖扩散距离已超过6米，并能行成郁闭度很高的单优群落，其物种丰富度、个体密度以及物种多样性指数均显著低于本地荆条灌丛群落。由于其强阳性生长特性，使其不能侵入森林，然而却能对灌丛生态系统构成危害，其克隆繁殖的特点也使其难以根除，在北京地区具有潜在的入侵能力，不适合继续作为绿化北京的主要树种。 6．北京市生物多样性面临的主要问题包括城区本土生物多样性低、生态系统退化、湿地萎缩、污染严重、强度的旅游开发和外来物种入侵等。本文对这些问题作了分析，提出在城区大力应用本地种构建自然群落，对退化生态系统因势利导结合人工和自然力进行恢复，规范旅游活动向生态旅游方向发展，加强公众教育，促进全社会参与生物多样性保护工作。

内蒙古典型草原地上净初级生产力估测及模型模拟的研究

地上净初级生产力（ANPP）是陆地生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分，但由于估测ANPP的方法不同使得对ANPP的估测值存在很大的不确定性。本文采用3种方法（群落中所有种群当年最大地上生物量之和（ANPPC1）、当年群落最大地上生物量（ANPPC2）以及每年固定日期（8月30日）的地上生物量（ANPPC3））在种群、功能群和群落水平上分别对连续19年（1980～1998）的内蒙古羊草和大针茅草原生态系统功能（如ANPP、植物多样性和水分利用效率（WUE））的动态变化进行了比较分析，同时探讨了不同估测方法下气候和放牧对ANPP的影响，在此基础上利用DNDC模型进行了ANPP的模拟和敏感性分析研究，主要结果包括： 在羊草和大针茅草原群落中，不同主要植物种群或功能群多年平均地上最大生物量出现的时间不同，而同一植物种群或功能群的年地上最大生物量出现的时间存在年际间的变化。采用当年最大地上生物量和8月30日固定日期的地上生物量作为群落ANPP的这两种方法高估了建群种或禾草功能群在群落中的作用。 羊草草原群落多年平均ANPPC1、ANPPC2和 ANPPC3分别是257.5、190.1和166.0 g.m-2;相应的大针茅草原多年平均ANPPC1、ANPPC2和 ANPPC3分别是180.4、132.8和122.5 g.m-2。就群落生产力而言，后两种常用的方法二和方法三分别低估了草原群落ANPP 14.2%～40.0%和15.5～59.0%。本文研究表明尽管ANPPC1与ANPPC2和ANPPC3之间存在显著的差异，但二者之间存在极显著的相关性:羊草草原的ANPPC1= 59.587+1.061×ANPPC2（r2＝0.865, p＜0.001），ANPPC1= 92.329+1.017×ANPPC3（r2＝0.569, p＜0.001）;大针茅草原的ANPPC1= 32.918+1.114×ANPPC2（r2＝0.814, p＜0.001），ANPPC1= 76.120+0.875×ANPPC3（r2＝0.499, p＝0.001）。 种群、功能群和群落地上净初级生产力与气候因子间的关系因不同的估测方法而异。羊草草原的建群种羊草种群仅ANPPS3与8月和11月份的平均温度间存在显著相关性，而大针茅草原群落的建群种大针茅种群的ANPPS1和ANPPS2与3月份平均最高气温间呈负相关关系。在羊草草原群落，杂类草功能群ANPPF1和ANPPF2与3月份气温呈负相关关系;而灌木半灌木功能群ANPPF1和ANPPF2与3月份降水呈负相关关系。在大针茅草原群落，禾草功能群ANPPF1与5月份最高平均气温呈显著负相关关系。羊草草原群落ANPPC1和ANPPC3分别与11月份最低温度和平均温度存在显著负相关关系;大针茅草原群落ANPPC1与2和6月份月降水量间相关性显著，ANPP2与5月和11月份月平均最低温度呈显著负相关关系，而4～9月份，1和4月份平均最低温度对群落ANPPC3起决定作用。 在羊草和大针茅草原群落，由方法一得到的群落水分利用效率、Shannon植物多样性指数和均匀度指数与方法二或方法三得到的相应的指数间存在显著的差异，方法二和方法三得到的值间差异不显著。群落地上净初级生产力与相应估测方法的植物Shannon多样性指数和均匀度指数之间相关性不显著。 放牧条件下羊草或大针茅草原群落中的建群种羊草和大针茅在群落中的相对地上生物量较围栏内的相应植物种群的降低，而糙隐子草种群在群落中的比例上升。不同的放牧管理条件下，群落中植物种群地上现存量的季节动态发生变化。群落的植物组成及植物种群地上生物量在群落中总生物量的比例发生了明显的变化。利用遥感来估测地上净初级生产力时，分别低估了羊草和大针茅草原ANPP 52％和27％。 DNDC模型可以很好地模拟内蒙古典型草原生态系统的地上生物量，通过敏感性分析表明降水是草原植物生长的主要限制因子，在降水量增加或降低至日降水的30%时，模拟的地上生物量显著地高于或低于实测地上生物量值。在多年平均降水量为347mm的情况下，随着土壤粘粒含量的增加，地上生物量逐渐降低，与北美草原一致。

云雾山本氏针茅草地群落恢复演替过程中的物种多样性变化动态

采用样方法对云雾山干草原区本氏针茅草地群落进行长期定位监测,对未封育样地和封育5,10,15,20和25年样地群落的平均高度、盖度、多度和地上生物量以及植物多样性进行实地调查分析,以研究围栏封育对草地植物群落特征动态变化的影响。结果表明,围封10年样地群落的高度、多度以及地上生物量最大,而群落的盖度则随封育年限的增加呈显著增加趋势,在封育25年达到最大;围栏封育的不同年限也显著影响了群落的物种多样性,在围封10年样地群落具有最高的多样性指数,围封15年样地具有最高的丰富度指数,而均匀度指数则是在未封育群落中表现为最高值,最低值是在物种丰富度最高时出现。由此可见,围栏封育在一定时间范围内可以显著改善群落的特征,增加群落的生产力,对于本研究地本氏针茅群落的最佳封育期限为10~15年,但围封时间过长在草地退化方面有一定程度的影响。

旅游相关活动对九寨沟核心景区植物多样性与结构的影响

日益增强的旅游活动干扰正成为九寨沟世界自然遗产的有效保护与持续管理不可回避的挑战，已成为当前区域生态保护与经济发展的焦点问题之一。阐明相关旅游的干扰活动对核心景区植物物种组成、多样性与结构的影响是九寨沟有效保护与持续管理的必要前提和基础，然而至今少有研究。选择九寨沟与旅游活动相关的九个景点、公路建设地段以及退耕地还林地，详细调查了林下植被结构、物种组成与多样性，比较了相关旅游活动干扰与基本未受干扰地段的差异。目的是阐明九寨沟核心景区旅游干扰条件下植物多样性与群落结构及其特点，揭示旅游干扰与植被结构和生物多样的相互关系，评估九寨沟旅游管理的有效性，探索减免旅游干扰影响的对策与措施。初步结论如下。 1.旅游活动引起九寨沟核心景区植物组成和群落结构特征改变显著。栈道及公路附近许多耐荫喜湿的敏感种局部消失，而早熟禾、车前草、委陵菜等耐干旱、耐践踏、繁殖能力强的植物种群扩大；外来物种频繁出现并已少量侵入干扰相对较轻的林分深处；林下群落以草本植物为优势，灌木与苔藓植物的频度、盖度、高度以及灌木密度均有所下降。可见，大量的游人活动和景区公路建设已对九寨沟丰富的乡土植物构成极大威胁，导致其生物多样性降低。而九寨沟农耕地退耕有利于九寨沟生态环境和生物多样性保护，正逐步向稳定群落演替。 2．干扰强度的差异导致九寨沟植物所受影响的程度不同。栈道附近植物受影响的程度与游人活动频率有关，活动频率高的地段干扰强度大，对植物的影响程度重，反之植物所受的影响较轻。强度干扰地段，耐荫喜湿的物种少见，伴生植物优势地位突出，生物多样性明显降低，植物群落结构特征改变也极为显著；干扰较轻的地段，伴生物种少量出现，植物群落结构变化不明显，生物多样性略为降低，部分地区结构参数值和多样性指数有所升高。公路修建是一种强度干扰，它导致附近植物种类极为单一，草本优势种异常突出，多数植物生活力低下、生长更新能力差。 3.不同植物类群受干扰影响的程度不同。草本及苔藓植物的种类组成和多样性指数受干扰影响较大，灌木和苔藓植物的结构受干扰影响较大，苔藓植物对干扰影响最为敏感。 综合分析表明，九寨沟核心景区的管理虽然比较规范，但目前核心区热点景点段的管理仍然不够，旅游活动驱动了林下植被退化明显、物种组成显著变化、生物多样性衰退、非乡土喜光耐旱种群扩大。导致九寨沟核心区旅游活动与生物多样性保护目标尖锐冲突，进一步约束旅游活动带来的干扰，强化管理，开展林下植被恢复与非乡土喜光耐旱种群调控是九寨沟自然遗产地保护一项紧迫任务。 The increasing tourism disturbance is an unavoidable challenge to effective conservation and sustained tourist management of Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. It has become one of the focal problems of regional ecological protect and economic development. It is important to clarify effects of tourism disturbance on plant species composition, diversity and community structure in kernel spot for effective conservation and sustained tourist management in Jiuzhaigou, China. However, there were little studies about this yet. The study investigated the vegetation structure, species composition and diversity at nine sight spot, road area and four abandoned farmlands connecting with tourism, and compared the differences between disturbed area and undisturbed area. The purpose of the this study is clarifying the plant diversity and community structure and characteristics of the disturbed area in kernel spot of Jiuzhaigou, discovering the relation between vegetation structure and biodiversity, evaluating the effect of tourist management and exploring the measure decreasing tourist disturbance. Our results are following: 1. Tourism disturbance caused a significant change in species composition and structure of plant communities in kernel Spot of Jiuzhaigou. In the vicinity of plank and road, some native shade-tolerant or hygrophilous plants had disappeared, accompanying with the population expansion of some xerophilous and disturbance-resisting species such as Poa sp. Plantago depressa, Potentiila multicaulis and some exotic and synanthropic species. Herbs were domaint species, while frequency coverage and height of shrubs and bryophytes, and shrub density decreased. In indicated that tourist activities and build of road had adversely affected on native plant species, and led to decline in biodiversity of Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. Abandoned farmlands maybe conduced to entironment and biodiversity conservation. 2. Nearby the plank, influency variable of tourism disturbance on plant was alosely and positively correlated with disturbance intensity. There was companion plant species and lacked shape-loving species in heavy disturbed areas, which caused decrease in biodiversity and significant change in community structure in these places. On the contrary, in the slightly disturbed areas, some companion speices displayed and biodiversity decreased slightly, but no significant change in community structure in these areas. The biuld of road is a heavy disturbance form, which led to increase of herb species and to decrease in vitality and regeneration capacity. 3. The intensity of tourism disturbance on plant depended on plant groups. Tourism interference significantly influenced species composition and diversity index of herb and bryophyte; it also significantly influenced community structure; the bryophyte was more sensitive to tourism disturbance. Our result indicated that the management in kernel spot of Jiuzhaigou is relatively reasonable, but not adequate. Tourism speed the degradation of the vegetation under woodland, the change of the species composition, the decreaing of the biodiversity and the expanding of the exotic sunloving plant populations. The contradiction between tourism and conserving biodiversity is increasing, so enforcing management, regenerating the vegetation under woodland and adjusting the exotic sunloving arid-tolerent plant populations is a pressing work to protect the Jiuzhaigou natural legacy.