Comparative study on CO2 emissions from different types of alpine meadows during grass exuberance period

Potentilla fruticosa scrub, Kobresia humilis meadow and Kobresia tibetica meadow are widely distributed on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. During the grass exuberance period from 3 July to 4September, based on close chamber-GC method, a study on CO2 emissions from different treatments was conducted in these meadows at Haibei research station, CAS. Results indicated that mean CO2emission rates from various treatments were 672.09+152.37 mgm-2h-1 for FC (grass treatment); 425.41+191.99 mgrn-2h-1 for FJ (grass exclusion treatment); 280.36+174.83 mgrn-2h-1 for FL (grass and roots exclusion treatment); 838.95+237.02 mgm-2h-1 for GG (scrub+grass treatment); 528.48+205.67 mgm-2h-1for GC (grass treatment); 268.97 ±99.72 mgm-2h-1 for GL (grass and roots exclusion treatment); and 659.20±94.83 mgm-2h-1 for LC (grass treatment), respectively (FC, FJ, FL, GG, GC, GL, LC were the Chinese abbreviation for various treatments). Furthermore, Kobresia humilis meadow, Potentilla fruticosa scrub meadow and Kobresia tibetica meadow differed greatly in average CO2 emission rate of soil-plant system, in the order of GG＞FC＞LC＞GC. Moreover, in Kobresia humilis meadow,heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration accounted for 42% and 58% of the total respiration of soil-plant system respectively, whereas, in Potentilla fruticosa scrub meadow, heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration accounted for 32% and 68% of total system respiration from G-G; 49% and 51%from GC. In addition, root respiration from Kobresia humilis meadow approximated 145 mgCO2m-2h-1,contributed 34% to soil respiration. During the experiment period, Kobresia humilis meadow and Potentilla fruticosa scrub meadow had a net carbon fixation of 111.11 grn-2 and 243.89 grn-2,respectively. Results also showed that soil temperature was the main factor which influenced CO2 emission from alpine meadow ecosystem, significant correlations were found between soil temperature at 5 cm depth and CO2 emission from GG, GC, FC and FJ treatments. In addition, soil moisture may be the inhibitory factor of CO2 emission from Kobresia tibetica meadow, and more detailed analyses should be done in further research.

青藏高原矮嵩草草甸种子库的初步研究

The seed bank of Kobresia humilis meadow in Qing- Zang Plateau was preliminaryly studied and the relationships among seed bank , seed rain and above-ground vegetation were compared and analysed.The results showed that there were 23 species in the seed bank in both of green up and withering stage. In species composition of the seed bank ,Ranunculaceae and Leguminosae were dominant ,while the percentage of Cyperaceae and Gramineae were lower. The percentage of K. humilis seeds was relatively lower with 0. 97 % in green up stage and 1. 97 % in withering stage. The species composition of the seed bank correlated with that of the seed rain ( r = 0. 7505 , P < 0. 01) ,and there were 18 common species which was 78. 3 %of species of the seed bank. Only 41. 81 %of above-ground vegetation species presented in the seed bank. The seed numbers of the dominant plant species in vegetation were smaller , with lower percentage in the seed bank. Therefore , the dominant vegetation of K. humilis et al. mainly depended on vegetative reproduction to maintain and strengthen. From vegetation to the seed bank in green up stage ,the species diversity decreased by 9. 94 %. It implied that the seed bank was the source of vegetation regeneration , but also a mechanism of preserving species diversity of the plants.

Methane emissions by alpine plant communities in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

For the first time to our knowledge, we report here methane emissions by plant communities in alpine ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This has been achieved through long-term field observations from June 2003 to July 2006 using a closed chamber technique. Strong methane emission at the rate of 26.2 +/- 1.2 and 7.8 +/- 1.1 mu g CH4 m(-2) h(-1) was observed for a grass community in a Kobresia humilis meadow and a Potentilla fruticosa meadow, respectively. A shrub community in the Potentilla meadow consumed atmospheric methane at the rate of 5.8 +/- 1.3 mu g CH4 m(-2) h(-1) on a regional basis; plants from alpine meadows contribute at least 0.13 Tg CH4 yr(-1) in the Tibetan Plateau. This finding has important implications with regard to the regional methane budget and species-level difference should be considered when assessing methane emissions by plants.

Nitrous oxide emissions from two alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission was measured in a Kobresia humilis meadow and a Potentilla fruticosa meadow in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from June 2003 to July 2006. Five treatments were setup in the two alpine meadows. Two bare soil treatments were setup in the K. humilis meadow (BSK) and in the P. fruticosa meadow (BSP) by removing the above- and belowground plant biomass. Three plant community treatments were setup with one in the K. humilis meadow (herbaceous community in the K. humilis meadow-HCK) and two in the P. fruticosa meadow (herbaceous community in the P. fruticosa meadow-HCP, and shrub community in the P. fruticosa meadow-SCP). Nitrous oxide emission from BSP was estimated to be 38.1 +/- 3.6 mu g m(-2) h(-1), significantly higher than from BSK (30.2 +/- 2.8 mu g m(-2) h(-1)) during the whole experiment period. Rates from the two herbaceous blocks (HCK and HCP) were close to 39.5 mu g m(-2) stop h(-1) during the whole experimental period whereas shrub community (SCP) showed significant high emission rates of N2O. Annual rate of N2O emission was estimated to be 356.7 +/- 8.3 and 295.0 +/- 11.6 mg m(-2) year(-1) from the alpine P. fruticosa meadow and from the alpine K. humilis meadow, respectively. These results suggest that alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are an important source of N2O, contributing an average of 0.3 Tg N2O year(-1). We concluded that N2O emission will decrease, due to a predicted vegetation shift from shrubs to grasses imposed by overgrazing.

Growing season ecosystem respirations and associated component fluxes in two alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau

From 30 June to 24 September in 2003 ecosystem respiration (Re) in two alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau were measured using static chamber- and gas chromatography- (GC) based techniques. Simultaneously, plant removal treatments were set to partition Re into plant autotrophic respiration (Ra) and microbial heterotrophic respiration (Rh). Results indicated that Re had clear diurnal and seasonal variation patterns in both of the meadows. The seasonal variability of Re at both meadow sites was caused mainly by changes in Ra, rather than Rh. Moreover, at the Kobresia humilis meadow site (K_site), Ra and Rh accounted for 54% and 46% of Re, respectively. While at the Potentilla fruticosa scrub meadow (P_site), the counterparts accounted for 61% and 39%, respectively. T test showed that there was significant difference in Re rates between the two meadows (t = 2.387, P = 0.022). However, no significant difference was found in Rh rates, whereas a significant difference was observed in Ra rates between the two meadows. Thus, the difference in Re rate between the two meadows was mainly attributed to plant autotrophic respirations. During the growing season, the two meadows showed relatively low Q(10) values, suggesting that Re, especially Rh was not sensitive to temperature variation in the growing season. Additionally, Re and Rh at the K_site, as well as Rh at the P_site was negatively correlated with soil moisture, indicating that soil moisture would also play an important role in respirations.

Photosynthesis of Saussurea superba and Gentiana straminea is not reduced after long-term enhancement of UV-B radiation

Experiments were conducted in an alpine Kobresia humilis meadow near Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station (37degrees29'-37degrees45'N, 101degrees12'-101degrees33'E; altitude 3200 m). Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on photosynthesis of the alpine plants of Saussurea superba and Gentiana straminea were investigated. Both species were exposed to a UV-B-BE density at 15.80 kJ m(-2) per day, simulating nearly 14% ozone (O-3) reduction during the plant growing season. Neither photosynthetic CO2 uptake rate nor photosynthetic O-2 evolution rate were decreased after a long period of enhanced UV-B radiation treatment. On the contrary, there was a tendency to increase of both parameters in both species. The photosynthetic pigments were also increased, when expressed on a leaf area basis. UV-B absorbing compounds, detected by the absorbance values at 300 mm, had a tendency to increase in both species after enhanced UV-B radiation. After long-term exposure of plants to enhanced UV-B radiation, leaf morphology was also affected. Leaf thickness in both S. superba and G. straminea were increased significantly (P < 0.001). This supports our hypothesis that the increase of leaf thickness in both species after long-term exposure of enhanced UV-B radiation could compensate for the photodestruction of photosynthetic pigments when light passes through the leaf. Therefore, photosynthesis is not reduced in either species when expressed on leaf area basis. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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.

高寒草甸矮嵩草种群繁殖对策的研究

This paper studied the reproductive strategies of Kobresia humilis in alpine meadow about its sexual reproduction ,vegetative reproduction and reproductive efforts respectively. The results show that the seed output of Kobresia humilis is 715. 5per unit (m2) . The germination is above 60 % in fit condition ,while only about 3 % in field. There is only 16. 13 % seed which get into seed bank and remain vitality till grass greening. So the seedling is only 3. 46 per unit (m2) in field.But the new ramets of Kobresia humilis are 711. 34 unit (m2 ) from vegetative reproduction. In addition ,vegetative reproductive effort is more than sexual reproductive effort . It constitutes 93. 5 % of all reproductive efforts. Therefore ,the main reproductive strategy of Kobresia humilis is vegetative reproduction ,and sexual reproduction is secondary in alpine condition.

Effect of imitated global warming on Delta C-13 values in seven plant species growing in Tibet alpine meadows

Open-top chambers were used to estimate the possible effects of global warming on delta C-13 of seven plant species grown in alpine meadow ecosystem. The delta C-13 values of plant species were lower after long-term growth in open-top chambers. In the course of experiment, temperature significantly increased inside the chambers by 4 degrees C. Plant species grown at a lower elevation above sea level had higher delta C-13 values as compared to those grown at a higher elevation. This was in accordance with the effect of open-top chamber on delta C-13 values in plants. Greater availability of CO2 and lower water vapor as indicated by an increase in discrimination against (CO2)-C-13, probably result in more negative delta C-13 values of plants because higher stomatal conductance increases availability of CO2 and causes greater discrimination against (CO2)-C-13. The plant species studied could be the indicator species for testing global warming by the change in carbon isotope ratios at the two growth temperatures.

Distribution and species diversity of plant communities along transect on the Northeastern Tibetan plateau

The distribution and species diversity of plant communities along a 600 km transect through the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (32 degrees 42'-35 degrees 07' N, 101 degrees 02'-97 degrees 38' E) with altitudes from 3255 to 4460 m are described. The transect started from the Youyi Bridge of Banma through Dari, Maqin and Maduo to Zaling Lake. The data from 47 plots along the transect are summarized and analyzed. The mean annual temperature, the mean annual rainfall and the length of growing season decreases from 2.6 to -4.5 degrees C, from 767.2 to 240.1 mm, from 210 to 140 days, respectively, along the transect from the southeastern Banma to northwestern Zaling Lake. The number of vascular plant species recorded in 47 plots is 242 including 2 tree, 34 shrub, 206 herb species. Main vegetation types on the transect from southeast to northwest are: Sabina convallium forest, Picea likiangensis forest, Pyracantha fortuneana + Spiraea alpina shrub, Hippophae neurocarpu shrub, Sibiraea angustata + Polygonum viviparum shrub, Stellera chamaejasme herb meadow, Potentilla fruticosa + Salix obscura + Carex sp. Shrub, Kobresia capillifolia meadow, P. froticosa + Kobresia humilis shrub, Caragana jubata + S. obscura shrub, Kobresia tibetica meadow, Kobresia pygmaea meadow, K. pygmaea + Stipa purpurea steppe meadow, Stipa purpurea steppe. Plant richness and diversity index all showed a decreasing trend with increasing of elevation along transect from southeast to northwest. Detailed information on altitudinal ranges and distribution of the alpine vegetation, vascular flora and environments over the alpine zone at northeastern Tibetan Plateau provides baseline records relevant to future assessment of probable effects of global climate changes.

围封对退化矮嵩草草甸群落结构和主要种群空间分布格局的影响

通过研究围栏封育1年后中度退化的矮嵩草草甸（夏季牧场）群落结构的变化,探讨主要植物种群在小尺度（50 cm×50 cm）上的空间分布格局,并从生活史特征和生态适应对策等角度探讨产生和维持这些格局的机理。结果表明,围封1年显著降低了群落中主要种群矮嵩草（Kobresia humilis）、高山唐松草（Thalictrum alpinum）和雪白委陵菜（Potentilla nivea）的重要值,而增加了线叶龙胆（Gentiana farreri）的重要值;显著增加了群落的地上生物量和总生物量,但对地下生物量和群落多样性的影响不显著。围封使退化矮嵩草草甸主要种群矮嵩草、高山唐松草、珠芽蓼（Polygonum viviparum）、线叶嵩草（Kobresia capillifolia）和金露梅（Potentilla fruticosa）等空间分布格局从放牧后的随机分布向聚集分布发展,而雪白委陵菜、重齿风毛菊（S.katochaeteMaxim）、矮火绒草（Leonto-podium nanum）和美丽风毛菊（Saussurea pulchra）等种群的空间分布格局没有发生改变;但黑褐苔草（Carex atro-fusca）的空间格局从放牧后的聚集分布转向随机分布。因此,退化的矮嵩草草甸在围封的初始阶段,由于避免了家畜的选择性采食及其践踏作用,首先可能是使主要种群的空间分布格局有从随机分布向聚集分布变化的趋势,从而使小尺度的种间隔离来降低种间的竞争强度,从而改变了不同物种对资源和空间的竞争能力,进而推动群落物种组成和结构的恢复演替。

高寒草甸植物抗氧化系统对长期增强UV-B辐射的响应

通过研究自然条件下模拟平流层臭氧破坏5%时近地表面增加的太阳UV-B辐射对高寒草甸4种典型植物（矮嵩草Kobresia humilis、垂穗披碱草Elymus nutans、麻花艽Gentiana straminea和鹅绒委陵菜Po-tentilla anserina）的抗氧化系统的影响表明,尽管各植物的抗氧化系统组分变化不同,但4种植物的膜脂过氧化程度没有加剧,长期增强UV-B辐射没有对膜系统造成损伤。在自然长期增强UV-B条件下,4种植物的膜脂过氧化产物——丙二醛（MDA）含量与对照相比无显著差异。垂穗披碱草、鹅绒委陵菜的谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量增加,麻花艽的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性与鹅绒委陵菜的过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性上升,同时麻花艽的类胡萝卜素（Car）含量亦显著增加。可见这些植物已能很好地适应UV-B强辐射,其抗氧化能力除了与抗氧化系统各组分的协同作用有关外,也可能与种的适应性有关。

青藏高原3种主要植被类型的表观量子效率和最大光合速率的比较

以海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站的涡度相关系统连续观测的CO_2通量数据为基础,分析了青藏高原的高寒矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis)草甸、高寒金露梅(Potentilla fruticosa)灌丛草甸和高寒藏嵩草(Kobresia tibetica)沼泽化草甸等3种主要植被类型在2005年植物生长季(6-9月)的表观量子产额(a)、最大光合速率(Pmax)和呼吸速率(Reco)的变化特征.结果表明:3种植被类型白天的净生态系统CO_2交换量(NEE)和光量子通量密度(PPFD)存在明显的直角双曲线关系(P＜0.05),其a、Pmax和Reco呈现出相似的季节变化趋势,在生长季初期(6月)最小,在7月或8月份达到最大;高寒矮嵩草草甸的a、Pmax和Reco大于灌丛草甸和沼泽化草甸,而后两者差别不大.

模拟增温效应对矮嵩草生长特征的影响

基于国际冻原计划(ITEX)模拟增温效应对植物影响的研究方法,将温棚按从小到大的顺序设为A、B、C、D、E 5个梯度水平,研究了矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis)植株的分蘖数、叶片数、高度、生物量以及重要值对温度升高的响应.结果表明:温度(地表温度和地温)随温棚的减小而升高,最高的A温棚内地表温度和地温分别比对照提高2.35℃和2.13℃;分蘖数在E温棚中增加最多,且分别与B、A温棚间差异分别达到显著水平和极显著水平,A～E温棚间分蘖数的变化与棚内温度呈负相关,且与地温呈显著相关;叶片数的变化趋势与分蘖数一致, A～E温棚间叶片数与温度呈极显著负相关;叶片高度随温度的增加而升高,A温棚极显著高于E温棚和对照,处理间叶片高度变化与温度呈极显著正相关;生物量、重要值与温度呈显著负相关.

青藏高原两种草甸地表通量季节变化特征

2003年1月-2004年7月运用涡度相关法技术研究青藏高原金露梅(Potentilla fruticosa)灌丛草甸(SWM)和藏嵩草(Kobresia humilis)沼泽化草甸(SRM)的地表通量。结果表明：二者地表湍流通量都具有明显的季节变化和日变化，其中感热通量以4月最大，1月最小，而潜热通量则以5月最大；感热通量随着季节的变动而显著变化，在相同月份中沼泽化草甸白天最大值大于灌丛草甸，日变化振幅比灌丛草甸强；白天潜热通量达到最大值的时间和波动强度因季节不同而各异，在非生长季节白天最大值在13～15 h，日波动较弱，生长季节最大值在12 h，日波动较强；高寒草甸地表湍流通量与温度间存在着线性关系；不同季节感热通量：沼泽化草甸>灌丛革甸，而潜热通量与感热通量各异，在1月沼泽化革匈>灌丛草甸，在4和10月，沼泽化草甸<灌丛草甸，在7月二者基本一致。