Spatiotemporal changes of gross primary productivity and its response to drought in the Mongolian Plateau under climate change

Gross primary productivity(GPP)of vegetation is an important constituent of the terrestrial carbon sinks and is significantly influenced by drought.Understanding the impact of droughts on different types of vegetation GPP provides insight into the spatiotemporal variation of terrestrial carbon sinks,aiding efforts to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change.In this study,we utilized the precipitation and temperature data from the Climatic Research Unit,the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index(SPEI),the standardized precipitation index(SPI),and the simulated vegetation GPP using the eddy covariance-light use efficiency(EC-LUE)model to analyze the spatiotemporal change of GPP and its response to different drought indices in the Mongolian Plateau during 1982-2018.The main findings indicated that vegetation GPP decreased in 50.53% of the plateau,mainly in its northern and northeastern parts,while it increased in the remaining 49.47%area.Specifically,meadow steppe(78.92%)and deciduous forest(79.46%)witnessed a significant decrease in vegetation GPP,while alpine steppe(75.08%),cropland(76.27%),and sandy vegetation(87.88%)recovered well.Warming aridification areas accounted for 71.39% of the affected areas,while 28.53% of the areas underwent severe aridification,mainly located in the south and central regions.Notably,the warming aridification areas of desert steppe(92.68%)and sandy vegetation(90.24%)were significant.Climate warming was found to amplify the sensitivity of coniferous forest,deciduous forest,meadow steppe,and alpine steppe GPP to drought.Additionally,the drought sensitivity of vegetation GPP in the Mongolian Plateau gradually decreased as altitude increased.The cumulative effect of drought on vegetation GPP persisted for 3.00-8.00 months.The findings of this study will improve the understanding of how drought influences vegetation in arid and semi-arid areas.

Simulation of the Ecosystem Productivity Responses to Aerosol Diffuse Radiation Fertilization Effects over the Pan-Arctic during 2001–19

The pan-Arctic is confronted with air pollution transported from lower latitudes.Observations have shown that aerosols help increase plant photosynthesis through the diffuse radiation fertilization effects(DRFEs).While such DRFEs have been explored at low to middle latitudes,the aerosol impacts on pan-Arctic ecosystems and the contributions by anthropogenic and natural emission sources remain less quantified.Here,we perform regional simulations at 0.2o×0.2ousing a well-validated vegetation model(Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere,YIBs)in combination with multi-source of observations to quantify the impacts of aerosol DRFEs on the net primary productivity(NPP)in the pan-Arctic during 2001-19.Results show that aerosol DRFEs increase pan-Arctic NPP by 2.19 Pg C(12.8%)yr^(-1)under clear-sky conditions,in which natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to 8.9% and 3.9%,respectively.Under all-sky conditions,such DRFEs are largely dampened by cloud to only 0.26 Pg C(1.24%)yr^(-1),with contributions of 0.65% by natural and 0.59% by anthropogenic species.Natural aerosols cause a positive NPP trend of 0.022% yr^(-1)following the increased fire activities in the pan-Arctic.In contrast,anthropogenic aerosols induce a negative trend of-0.01% yr^(-1)due to reduced emissions from the middle latitudes.Such trends in aerosol DRFEs show a turning point in the year of 2007 with more positive NPP trends by natural aerosols but negative NPP trends by anthropogenic aerosols thereafter.Though affected by modeling uncertainties,this study suggests a likely increasing impact of aerosols on terrestrial ecosystems in the pan-Arctic under global warming.

A process model for simulating net primary productivity (NPP) based on the interaction of water-heat process and nitrogen: a case study in Lantsang valley

Terrestrial carbon cycle and the global atmospheric CO2 budget are important foci in global climate change research. Simulating net primary productivity (NPP) of terrestrial ecosystems is important for carbon cycle research. In this study, a plant-atmosphere-soil continuum nitrogen (N) cycling model was developed and incorporated into the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator (BEPS) model. With the established database (leaf area index, land cover, daily meteorology data, vegetation and soil) at a 1 km resolution, daily maps of NPP for Lantsang valley in 2007 were produced, and the spatial-temporal patterns of NPP and mechanisms of its responses to soil N level were further explored. The total NPP and mean NPP of Lantsang valley in 2007 were 66.5 Tg C and 416 g?m-2?a-1 C, respectively. In addition, statistical analysis of NPP of different land cover types was conducted and investigated. Compared with BEPS model (without considering nitrogen effect), it was inferred that the plant carbon fixing for the upstream of Lantsang valley was also limited by soil available nitrogen besides temperature and precipitation. However, nitrogen has no evident limitation to NPP accumulation of broadleaf forest, which mainly distributed in the downstream of Lantsang valley.

Assessing the Dynamics of Grassland Net Primary Productivity in Response to Climate Change at the Global Scale

Understanding the net primary productivity(NPP) of grassland is crucial to evaluate the terrestrial carbon cycle. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution and the area of global grassland across the globe. Then, we used the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach(CASA) model to estimate global grassland NPP and explore the spatio-temporal variations of grassland NPP in response to climate change from 1982 to 2008. Results showed that the largest area of grassland distribution during the study period was in Asia(1737.23 × 104 km^2), while the grassland area in Europe was relatively small(202.83 × 10~4 km^2). Temporally, the total NPP increased with fluctuations from 1982 to 2008, with an annual increase rate of 0.03 Pg C/yr. The total NPP experienced a significant increasing trend from 1982 to 1995, while a decreasing trend was observed from 1996 to 2008. Spatially, the grassland NPP in South America and Africa were higher than the other regions, largely as a result of these regions are under warm and wet climatic conditions. The highest mean NPP was recorded for savannas(560.10 g C/(m^2·yr)), whereas the lowest was observed in open shrublands with an average NPP of 162.53 g C/(m^2·yr). The relationship between grassland NPP and annual mean temperature and annual precipitation(AMT, AP, respectively) varies with changes in AP, which indicates that, grassland NPP is more sensitive to precipitation than temperature.

The net primary productivity of Mid-Jurassic peatland and its control factors: Evidenced by the Ordos Basin

Using the large-scale thick 4# coal seam from the Mid-Jurassic in the southern Ordos Basin as an example, this paper studied the net primary productivity(NPP) level of the Mid-Jurassic peatland, and discussed its control factors. Geophysical logging signals were used for a spectrum analysis to obtain the Milankovitch cycle parameters in coal seam. These were then used to calculate the accumulation rate of the residual carbon in 4# coal seam. The carbon loss can be calculated according to the density and residual carbon content of 4# coal seam. Then, the total carbon accumulation rate of the peatland was further derived, and the NPP of peatland was determined. The results show that the NPP of MidJurassic peatland is higher than that of Holocene at the same latitude. Comprehensive analysis indicates that the temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in atmosphere are the main control factors of the NPP of Mid-Jurassic peatland.

Variation of net primary productivity and its drivers in China’s forests during 2000-2018

Background:Net primary productivity(NPP)in forests plays an important role in the global carbon cycle.However,it is not well known about the increase rate of China’s forest NPP,and there are different opinions about the key factors controlling the variability of forest NPP.Methods:This paper established a statistics-based multiple regression model to estimate forest NPP,using the observed NPP,meteorological and remote sensing data in five major forest ecosystems.The fluctuation values of NPP and environment variables were extracted to identify the key variables influencing the variation of forest NPP by correlation analysis.Results:The long-term trends and annual fluctuations of forest NPP between 2000 and 2018 were examined.The results showed a significant increase in forest NPP for all five forest ecosystems,with an average rise of 5.2 gC·m-2·year-1 over China.Over 90%of the forest area had an increasing NPP range of 0-161 gC·m-2·year-1.Forest NPP had an interannual fluctuation of 50-269 gC.m-2·year-1 for the five major forest ecosystems.The evergreen broadleaf forest had the largest fluctuation.The variability in forest NPP was caused mainly by variations in precipitation,then by temperature fluctuations.Conclusions:All five forest ecosystems in China exhibited a significant increasing NPP along with annual fluctuations evidently during 2000-2018.The variations in China’s forest NPP were controlled mainly by changes in precipitation.

Spatial-temporal variations in net primary productivity in the Arctic from 2003 to 2016

The area of Arctic sea ice has dramatically decreased, and the length of the open water season has increased;these patterns have been observed by satellite remote sensing since the 1970 s. In this paper, we calculate the net primary productivity(NPP, calculated by carbon) from 2003 to 2016 based on sea ice concentration products,chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentration, photosynthetically active radiation(PAR), sea surface temperature(SST), and sunshine duration data. We then analyse the spatiotemporal changes in the Chl a concentration and NPP and further investigate the relations among NPP, the open water area, and the length of the open water season. The results indicate that(1) the Chl a concentration increased by 0.025 mg/m^3 per year;(2) the NPP increased by 4.29 mg/(m^2·d) per year, reaching a maximum of 525.74 mg/(m^2·d) in 2016;and(3) the Arctic open water area increased by 57.23×10^3 km^2/a, with a growth rate of 1.53 d/a for the length of the open water season. The annual NPP was significantly positively related to the open water area, the length of the open water season and the SST.The daily NPP was also found to have a lag correlation with the open water area, with a lag time of two months.With global warming, NPP has maintained an increasing trend, with the most significant increase occurring in the Kara Sea. In summary, this study provides a macroscopic understanding of the distribution of phytoplankton in the Arctic, which is valuable information for the evaluation and management of marine ecological environments.

Carbon storage and net primary productivity in Canadian boreal mixedwood stands

Canadian boreal mixedwood forests are extensive,with large potential for carbon sequestration and storage;thus,knowledge of their carbon stocks at different stand ages is needed to adapt forest management practices to help meet climate-change mitigation goals.Carbon stocks were quantified at three Ontario boreal mixedwood sites.A harvested stand,a juvenile stand replanted with spruce seedlings and a mature stand had total carbon stocks(±SE)of 133±13 at age 2,130±13 at age 25,and 207±15 Mg C ha^-1 at age 81 years.At the clear-cut site,stocks were reduced by about 40%or 90 Mg C ha^-1 at harvest.Vegetation held 27,34 and 62%of stocks,while detritus held 34,29 and 13%of stocks at age 2,25 and 81,respectively.Mineral soil carbon stocks averaged 51 Mg C ha^-1,and held 38,37 and 25%of stocks.Aboveground net primary productivity(±SE)in the harvested and juvenile stand was 2.1±0.2 and 3.7±0.3 Mg C ha^-1 per annum(p.a.),compared to 2.6±2.5 Mg C ha^-1 p.a.in the mature stand.The mature canopies studied had typical boreal mixedwood composition and mean carbon densities of 208 Mg C ha^-1,which is above average for managed Canadian boreal forest ecosystems.A comparison of published results from Canadian boreal forest ecosystems showed that carbon stocks in mixedwood stands are typically higher than coniferous stands at all ages,which was also true for stocks in vegetation and detritus.Also,aboveground net primary productivity was typically found to be higher in mixedwood than in coniferous boreal forest stands over a range of ages.Measurements from this study,together with those published from the other boreal forest stands demonstrate the potential for enhanced carbon sequestration through modified forest management practices to take advantage of Canadian boreal mixedwood stand characteristics.

Responses of gross primary productivity to different sizes of precipitation events in a temperate grassland ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China

Changes in the sizes of precipitation events in the context of global climate change may have profound impacts on ecosystem productivity in arid and semiarid grasslands. However, we still have little knowledge about to what extent grassland productivity will respond to an individual precipitation event. In this study, we quantified the duration, the maximum, and the time-integrated amount of the response of daily gross primary productivity(GPP) to an individual precipitation event and their variations with different sizes of precipitation events in a typical temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Results showed that the duration of GPP-response(τR) and the maximum absolute GPP-response(GPPmax) increased linearly with the sizes of precipitation events(Pes), driving a corresponding increase in time-integrated amount of the GPP-response(GPPtotal) because variations of GPPtotal were largely explained by τR and GPPmax. The relative contributions of these two parameters to GPPtotal were strongly Pes-dependent. The GPPmax contributed more to the variations of GPPtotal when Pes was relatively small(<20 mm), whereas τR was the main driver to the variations of GPPtotal when Pes was relatively large. In addition, a threshold size of at least 5 mm of precipitation was required to induce a GPP-response for the temperate steppe in this study. Our work has important implications for the modeling community to obtain an advanced understanding of productivity-response of grassland ecosystems to altered precipitation regimes.

松花江流域NPP时空演变及其对极端气候的响应机制

为探究全球气候变化条件下松花江流域陆地生态系统健康程度的变化特征,基于2000—2020年MODIS MOD17A3HGF数据集,采用趋势分析、相关性分析、M-K检验、地理探测器和相对重要性分析等方法,结合气象站点数据和土地利用数据,分析植被净初级生产力(net primary productivity,NPP)时空演变特征及其对极端气候事件的响应机制。结果表明:松花江流域年均NPP值为407.45 g/m^(2)(以C计,下同),以年均4.82 g/m的速率显著上升(p<0.01);极端降水事件对植被NPP空间分异性的影响强于极端气温事件,极端气候指数间交互作用的影响大于单一极端气候指数的影响,流域及农田和草地生态系统NPP主要受总降水量(PRCPTOT)与年平均最低气温(TMIN)交互作用的影响,森林、湿地和聚落生态系统NPP分别受中雨日数(R10 mm)与年平均最高气温(TMAX)交互作用、强降水量(R95P)与TMIN交互作用和R10 mm与暖夜日数(TN90P)交互作用的影响;时间尺度上PRCPTOT、TMAX和TMIN是植被NPP的主要影响因素,空间尺度上PRCPTOT和TMIN是多年平均NPP的主要影响因素。研究结果可为量化气候变化背景下区域生态系统健康程度和应对极端气候事件措施的制定提供科学依据。

Biomass and net primary productivity of mangrove communities along the Oligohaline zone of Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Background:The article presents the first estimates of biomass and productivity for mangrove forests along the Oligohaline zone of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest(SRF),Bangladesh.This study was conducted overone year from March 2016 to April 2017.Stand structure,above and below-ground biomass changes,and litterfall production were measured within a 2100 m^2 sample plot.Methods:All trees in the study plots were numbered and height(H) and diameter at breast height(DBH) were measured.Tree height(H) and DBH for each tree were measured in March 2016 and 2017.We apply the above and belowground biomass equation for estimating the biomass of the mangrove tree species(Chave et al.Oecologia145:87-99,2005; Komiyama et al.J Trop Ecol 21:471-477,2005).Litterfall was collected using 1-mm mesh litter traps with collection area of 0.42 m^2.Net Primary Production(NPP) was estimated by the summation method of Ogawa Primary productivity of Japanese forests:productivity of terrestrial communities,JIBP synthesis(1977) and Matsuura and Kajimoto Carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystem:Systems approach to global environment(2013).Results:Heritiera fomes has maintained its dominance of the stand and also suffered the highest tree mortality(2.4%) in the suppressed crown class.The total above-ground biomass(AGB) and below-ground biomass(BGB) of the studied stand was 154.8 and 84.2 Mg ha^(-1),respectively.Among the total biomass of the trees,64.8% was allocated to AGB and 35.2% to BGB.In case of species-wise contribution of biomass allocation,Avicennia officinalis showed the highest score and Aglaia cucullata the lowest.Mean annual total litterfall was 10.1 Mg ha^(-1)·yr^(-1),with the maximum litterfall in winter or dry season and late summer or rainy season.The mean AGB increment and above-ground net primary productivity(AGNPP) were 7.1 and 172 Mg·ha^(-1)·yr^(-1),respectively.Total net primary productivity(NPP) was estimated to be 21.0 Mg·ha^(-1)·yr^(-1) over the observed period.The results in the Sundarbans mangrove forests exhibited that mangrove communities with similar height and diameter produced different biomass production with the different basal area.The present analysis revealed that the root biomass was large enough and the mean ratio of above-/below-ground biomass was estimated to be 1.84.Conclusions:Mangrove communities growing at the oligohaline zone of the Sundarbans,Bangladesh showed high biomass and net primary production indicating their ecological and conservation significance that may be considered in future decision making process for the area as well as in understanding the role of Sundarbans mangrove forest on mitigating the effect of global warming.

Impacts of Climate Change on Net Primary Productivity in Arid and Semiarid Regions of China

In recent years, with the constant change in the global climate, the effect of climate factors on net primary productivity(NPP) has become a hot research topic. However, two opposing views have been presented in this research area: global NPP increases with global warming, and global NPP decreases with global warming. The main reasons for these two opposite results are the tremendous differences among seasonal and annual climate variables, and the growth of plants in accordance with these climate variables. Therefore, it will fail to fully clarify the relation between vegetation growth and climate changes by research that relies solely on annual data. With seasonal climate variables, we may clarify the relation between vegetation growth and climate changes more accurately. Our research examined the arid and semiarid areas in China(ASAC), which account for one quarter of the total area of China. The ecological environment of these areas is fragile and easily affected by human activities. We analyzed the influence of climate changes, especially the changes in seasonal climate variables, on NPP, with Climatic Research Unit(CRU) climatic data and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) satellite remote data, for the years 2000–2010. The results indicate that: for annual climatic data, the percentage of the ASAC in which NPP is positively correlated with temperature is 66.11%, and 91.47% of the ASAC demonstrates a positive correlation between NPP and precipitation. Precipitation is more positively correlated with NPP than temperature in the ASAC. For seasonal climatic data, the correlation between NPP and spring temperature shows significant regional differences. Positive correlation areas are concentrated in the eastern portion of the ASAC, while the western section of the ASAC generally shows a negative correlation. However, in summer, most areas in the ASAC show a negative correlation between NPP and temperature. In autumn, precipitation is less important in the west, as opposed to the east, in which it is critically important. Temperatures in winter are a limiting factor for NPP throughout the region. The findings of this research not only underline the importance of seasonal climate variables for vegetation growth, but also suggest that the effects of seasonal climate variables on NPP should be explored further in related research in the future.

The size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity in the Bering Sea during the summer of 2003

Investigations of chlorophyll a and primary productivity were carried out in the Bering Sea along the BR line and the BS line during the Second Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2003. The results showed that the surface chlorophyll a concentrations were 0.199~1.170 μg/dm3, and the average value was 0.723 μg/dm3 on the BR line. For the BS line, the surface chlorophyll a concentrations were 0.519~4.644 μg/dm3 (average 1.605 μg/dm3) and 0.568~14.968 μg/dm3 (average 5.311 μg/dm3) during the early and late summer, respectively. The average value in the late summer was much higher than that in the early summer. The high values (more than 4.0 μg/dm3) occurred at stations of the BS line in the southern Bering Strait. The chlorophyll a concentrations in the subsurface layer were higher than those in the surface layer. The results of the size-fractionated chlorophyll a showed that the contribution of the picoplankton to total chlorophyll a was the predominance at the early summer and the contribution of the netplankton was the predominance at the late summer. The carbon potential primary productivities varied between 0.471 and 1.147 mg/(m3·h) on the BR line, with average rates of 0.728 mg/(m3·h). The primary productivities on the BS line were much higher than those of the BR line, ranging from 1.227 mg/(m3·h) at the early summer to 19.046 mg/(m3·h) at the late summer. The results of the size-fractionated primary productivity showed that the contribution of the nanoplankton to total productivity was the predominance at the early summer and the contribution of the netplankton was predominance at the late summer. The assimilation number of photosynthesis was 0.45~2.80 mg/(mg·h) in the surveyed stations.

Standing stock of phytoplankton and primary productivity in Penaeus orientalis larval multiplication releasing area of the Xiangshan Bay

The standing stock of phytoplankton (phy. ) and primary productivity (pp) in the Xiangshan Bay were observed in 1992. The results showed higher biological parameters in the bay. The average chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration was (3. 50 5. 93 ) mg/m3 and the primary productivity (444. 5 871. 0) mg/(m2 d). The distribution of chl a and productivity showed distinct spatial and temporal patterns in the bay. The continent influence was Obvious at the top of the bay, lower seawater exchange and higher stability led to higher standing stock of phytoplankton and productivity. At the bay mouth, seawater exchanged continuously with adjacent waters by rapid currents, resulting in fast and unstable exchange and lower standing stock of phytoplankton and primary productivity. The seasonal characters of those parameters were pronounced, in the sequence of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The results of size--fractionated showed that the average contribution of the nano--and picoplankton (< 20pm) to total chl a and productivity were 75 % and 87%, respectively, indicating their importance in phytoplankton community biomass and productivity of the Xiangshan Bay.

Primary productivity in the western tropical Pacific and equatorial warm waters

Primary productivity in the western tropical Pacific and equatorial warm waters was studied in the WOCE cruise in November of 1991 and the TOGA-COARE cruise from November of 1992 to February of 1993.It is shown that the total amount of integrated chlorophyll a(chloro a)was 19 79 mg/m 2 in depthof0～150 m and the average daily primary productivity was 171 mg/(m 2·d)(C)appeared in the western tropical Pacific while a higher chloro a(21 68 mg/m 2)and primary productivity [228 mg/(m 2·d)(C)]were observed in the equatorial warm waters.The highest chloro a was found at the coastal stations of Philippines and Irian while the lowest chloro a was at the offshore areas bounded by 2°～4°N.The distribution pattern of chloro a biomass was related to different physical processes.Upwelling,which may have led to a high biomass, was a critical factor changing the distributions of temperature,salinity and nutrient in these areas.

Examining Forest Net Primary Productivity Dynamics and Driving Forces in Northeastern China During 1982–2010

Forest net primary productivity(NPP) is a key parameter for forest monitoring and management. In this study, monthly and annual forest NPP in the northeastern China from 1982 to 2010 were simulated by using Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach(CASA) model with normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) sequences derived from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer(AVHRR) Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies(GIMMS) and Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) products. To address the problem of data inconsistency between AVHRR and MODIS data, a per-pixel unary linear regression model based on least squares method was developed to derive the monthly NDVI sequences. Results suggest that estimated forest NPP has mean relative error of 18.97% compared to observed NPP from forest inventory. Forest NPP in the northeastern China increased significantly during the twenty-nine years. The results of seasonal dynamic show that more clear increasing trend of forest NPP occurred in spring and autumn. This study also examined the relationship between forest NPP and its driving forces including the climatic and anthropogenic factors. In spring and winter, temperature played the most pivotal role in forest NPP. In autumn, precipitation acted as the most important factor affecting forest NPP, while solar radiation played the most important role in the summer. Evaportranspiration had a close correlation with NPP for coniferous forest, mixed coniferous broadleaved forest, and broadleaved deciduous forest. Spatially, forest NPP in the Da Hinggan Mountains was more sensitive to climatic changes than in the other ecological functional regions. In addition to climatic change, the degradation and improvement of forests had important effects on forest NPP. Results in this study are helpful for understanding the regional carbon sequestration and can enrich the cases for the monitoring of vegetation during long time series.

Didactic Sequences as an Educational Product to Facilitate Teaching-Learning Processes in Lato Sensu Graduate Courses in the Area of Health Management in Primary Care

Teaching strategies can be considered as techniques that are constructed to be used with the objective of promoting teaching and learning in the classroom, so that the teacher is considered a mentor, as he is the one who selects, analyzes, studies, organizes, builds and proposes the most classic tools to facilitate the learning process [1]. This study is an experience report related to the construction of an educational product that consists of the elaboration of pedagogical strategies, characterized by five didactic sequences in the perspective of collaborating with teaching-learning processes in lato sensu graduate courses. The themes that are part of the didactic sequences were built based on the results obtained in scientific research carried out during the development of the strict sensu postgraduate course in Teaching in Health and Technology, which involved: the work of coordinators who work in the field of health management in Primary Care, situations that challenge the management of Primary Care and the potentialities of work in the management of Primary Care. The didactic sequences have fun teaching strategies that provide meaningful learning for a future qualified professional performance. These sequences involve the use of active methodologies and the use of digital tools. The educational product developed seeks to promote benefits that can collaborate with the improvement of Primary Care Management and teaching-learning processes in the training of health professionals. Therefore, the pedagogical strategies, as well as its entire construction process, were developed through the collaboration of professors of the Health and Society discipline at the State University of Health Sciences of Alagoas (UNCISAL), seeking to make it qualify for effective construction of knowledge and that promote its wide use in the academic environment.

Classification and Net Primary Productivity of the Southern China's Grasslands Ecosystem Based on Improved Comprehensive and Sequential Classification System(CSCS) Approach

This research classified vegetation types and evaluated net primary productivity(NPP) of southern China's grasslands based on the improved comprehensive and sequential classification system(CSCS), and proposed 5 thermal grades and 6 humidity grades. Four classes of grasslands vegetation were recognized by improved CSCS, namely, tundra grassland class, typical grassland class, mixed grassland class and alpine grassland class. At the type level, 14 types of vegetations(9 grasslands and 5 forests) were classified. The NPP had a trend to decrease from east to west and south to north, and the annual mean NPP was estimated to be 656.3 g C m-2 yr-1. The NPP value of alpine grassland class was relatively high, generally more than 1 200 g C m-2 yr-1. The NPP value of mixed grassland class was in a range from 1 000 to 1 200 g C m-2 yr-1. Tundra grassland class was located in southeastern Tibet with high elevation, and its NPP value was the lowest(<600 g C m-2 yr-1). The typical grassland class distributed in most of the area, and its NPP value was generally from 600 to 1 000 g C m-2 yr-1. The total NPP value in the study area was 68.46 Tg C. The NPP value of typical grassland class was the highest(48.44 Tg C), and mixed grassland class was the second(16.54 Tg C), followed by alpine grassland class(3.22 Tg C), with tundra grassland class being the lowest(0.25 Tg C). For all the grasslands types, the total NPP of forest meadow was the highest(34.81 Tg C), followed by sparse forest brush(16.54 Tg C), and montane meadow was the lowest(0.01 Tg C).

Quantitative Assessment of the Relative Contributions of Climate and Human Factors to Net Primary Productivity in the Ili River Basin of China and Kazakhstan

It is necessary to quantitatively study the relationship between climate and human factors on net primary productivity(NPP)inorder to understand the driving mechanism of NPP and prevent desertification.This study investigated the spatial and temporal differentiation features of actual net primary productivity(ANPP)in the Ili River Basin,a transboundary river between China and Kazakhstan,as well as the proportional contributions of climate and human causes to ANPP variation.Additionally,we analyzed the pixel-scale relationship between ANPP and significant climatic parameters.ANPP in the Ili River Basin increased from 2001 to 2020 and was lower in the northeast and higher in the southwest;furthermore,it was distributed in a ring around the Tianshan Mountains.In the vegetation improvement zone,human activities were the dominant driving force,whereas in the degraded zone,climate change was the primary major driving force.The correlation coefficients of ANPP with precipitation and temperature were 0.322 and 0.098,respectively.In most areas,there was a positive relationship between vegetation change,temperature and precipitation.During 2001 to 2020,the basin’s climatic change trend was warm and humid,which promoted vegetation growth.One of the driving factors in the vegetation improvement area was moderate grazing by livestock.

Spatio-temporal Pattern of Net Primary Productivity in Hengduan Mountains area, China： Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activities

Net primary productivity(NPP), a metric used to define and identify changes in plant communities, is greatly affected by climate change, human activities and other factors. Here, we used the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach(CASA) model to estimate the NPP of plant communities in Hengduan Mountains area of China, and to explore the relationship between NPP and altitude in this region. We examined the mechanisms underlying vegetation growth responses to climate change and quantitatively assessed the effects of ecological protection measures by partitioning the contributions of climate change and human activities to NPP changes. The results demonstrated that: 1) the average total and annual NPP values over the years were 209.15 Tg C and 468.06 g C/(m2·yr), respectively. Their trend increasingly fluctuated, with spatial distribution strongly linked to altitude(i.e., lower and higher NPP in high altitude and low altitude areas, respectively) and 2400 m represented the marginal altitude for vegetation differentiation; 2) areas where climate was the main factor affecting NPP accounted for 18.2% of the total research area, whereas human activities were the primary factor influencing NPP in 81.8% of the total research area, which indicated that human activity was the main force driving changes in NPP. Areas where climatic factors(i.e., temperature and precipitation) were the main driving factors occupied 13.6%(temperature) and 6.0%(precipitation) of the total research area, respectively. Therefore, the effect of temperature on NPP changes was stronger than that of precipitation; and 3) the majority of NPP residuals from 2001 to 2014 were positive, with human activities playing an active role in determining regional vegetation growth, possibly due to the return of farmland back to forest and natural forest protection. However, this positive trend is decreasing. This clearly shows the periodical nature of ecological projects and a lack of long-term effectiveness.