The Influence of Plant Diversity and Functional Composition on Ecosystem Stability of Four Stipa Communities in the Inner Mongolia Plateau

The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of plant species diversity and functional composition (the identity of the plant functional groups) on ecosystem stability of Stipa, communities in the Inner Mongolia Plateau. The research work was based on a 12-year study (from 1984 to 1995) of species abundance, diversity, and primary productivity of four Stipa communities, i.e. S. baicalensis Roshev., S. grandis P. Smirn., S, krylovii Roshev., and S. klemenzii Roshev. respectively. The Shnnon-Wiener index was used as a measurement of plant diversity, while functional composition was used to differentiate the functional groups that were included in the communities. The plant species of four Stipa communities were classified into functional groups based on the differences in life forms and ecological groups, which influence their performance in resource requirements, seasonality of growth, tolerance to water stress, and life history. Plant species were classified into five functional groups based on their differences in life form, shrubs and half shrubs, perennial bunch grasses, perennial rhizome grasses, forbs, annuals and biennials. Based on their differences in water requirement these species were classified into four functional groups: xerads, intermediate xerads, intermediate mesophytes, and mesophytes. The results showed: 1) Plant species diversity stabilized ecosystem processes. Shannon-Wiener index were 2.401 4, 2.172 0, 1.624 8, 0.354 3 from S. baicalensis community to S. grandis, S. krylovii and S. klemenzii community, respectively. The dynamics of the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) for a 12-year's period showed a reverse pattern, the coefficients of variation of the four communities were 21.94%, 20.63%, 29.21% and 39.72% respectively. 2) The Life form functional group component of diversity was a greater determinant of the ecosystem processes than the species component of diversity. The effects of perennial bunch grasses, perennial rhizome grasses and forbs on community stability were highly significant. 3) The ecological group component of diversity was also a great determinant of the ecosystem processes. The effects of xerads, intermediate xerads, and mesophytes on community stability were also very strong.

Detecting Vegetation Fractional Coverage of Typical Steppe in Northern China Based on Multi-scale Remotely Sensed Data

One of the study objectives of global change is land use/cover change (LUCC) by using multiscale remotely sensed data on global and regional scale. In this paper, field sample, digital camera, Landsat-ETM+ (ETM+, Enhanced Thematic Mapper) image and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/the advanced very high resolution radiometer (NOAA/AVHRR) image were integrated to detect, simulate and analyze the vegetation fractional coverage of typical steppe in northern China. The results show: (1) Vegetation fractional coverage measured by digital camera is more precise than results measured by other methods. It can be used to validate other measuring results. (2) Vegetation fractional coverage measured by 1 m 2 field sample change fluctuantly for different observers and for different sample areas. In this experiment, the coverage is generally high compared with the result measured by digital camera, and the average absolute error is 9.92%, but two groups measure results, correlation coefficient r(2) = 0.89. (3) Three kinds of methods using remotely sensed data were adopted to simulate the vegetation fractional coverage. Average absolute errors of the vegetation fractional coverage, measured by ETM+ and NOAA, are respectively 7.03% and 7.83% compared with the result measured by digital camera. When NOAA pixel was decomposed by ETM+ pixels after geometrical registry, the average absolute errors measured by this method is 5.68% compared with the digital camera result. Correction coefficients of three results with digital camera result r(2) are respectively 0.78, 0.61 and 0.76. (4) The result of statistic model established by NOAA-NDVI (NDVI, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and the vegetation fractional coverage measured by digital camera show lower precision (r(2) = 0.65) than the result of statistic model established by ETM+-NDVI and digital camera coverage then converted to NOAA image (r(2) = 0.80). Pixel decomposability method improves the precision of measuring the vegetation fractional coverage on a large scale. This is a significant practice on scaling by using remotely sensed data. Integrated application of multi-scale remotely sensed data in earth observation will be an important approach to promoting measuring precision of ecological parameters.

Study on Dynamics of Calorific Value, Biomass and Energy in Calamagrostis epigejos Population in Songnen Grassland

There were two peaks of seasonal changes of the calorific value in shoot and leaves of Calamagrostis epigejos in middle June and in the early August respectively. The calorific value in stem presented a single peak curve which appeared in the early August. The calorific values in inflorescence and dead standing showed a fluctuation and the peak value of inflorescence was in the early September and that of dead standing was in middle June. The seasonal changes of energy standing crop on the above-ground part synchronized with that of the biomass, which presented a single peak curve. The energy allocated to each organ in different seasons was in the order as leaves > stem > inflorescence in middle June, leaves > stem > dead standing > inflorescence in early July, leaves > stem > inflorescence > dead standing in middle July, and leaves > stem > dead standing > inflorescence from August to September. The vertical allocation of energy in the parts of above-ground was that the energy value gradually increased from the surface to the 20 cm high level and the maximum value at the 10 - 20 cin high level which made up 26.91% of energy on the above-ground partion, and then it was decreased. In the under-ground portion, the energy value progressively decreased with depth and the maximum value was at 0 - 10 cm depth layer which made up 69.01% of energy of the under-ground portion.

A Dendroclimatic Study of Relic Picea meyeri in Inner Mongolian Steppe

Dendroclimatic methods were used to investigate the fundamental relationships between the temperature variables and the growth of climatically relic Picea meyeri Rehd. et Wils. on sandy land of Inner Mongolian grasslands in the Xilin River Basin. The annual mean temperature and accumulated temperature (above 5 ℃, 10 ℃) respectively showed no significant correlation with the spruce growth relative to summer mean temperature, which displayed strong coherence with tree growth ( P <0.01). The mean temperature in May showed significantly negative correlation with spruce growth ( P <0.05). Furthermore, it was revealed that the negative influence of May temperature was due to monthly mean maximum temperature ( T max ) ( P <0.01) other than monthly mean minimum temperature ( T min ) values ( P <0.1), which indicated that the use of T min and T max separately can allow much more insights on the temperate influence. In addition, extreme maximum temperature in May and June might impose the most detrimental influence on tree growth in semi_arid Inner Mongolian grassland. The analysis of the recorded meteorological data demonstrated that the increases in temperature were synchronous with slight decreases in precipitation in the growing season, which suggested that P. meyeri may reduce growth due to temperature_induced drought. On the other hand, the analysis for decadal periods explored that trees appeared to reduce the sensitivity to the warming, and consequently increased sensitivity to rainfall. This may serve as a baseline for more accurate predictions of the potential impacts of altered climate regimes on tree growth.

Effects of Grassland Eco-Protection Compensation and Reward System

Grassland ecological protection compensation and reward policy is the largest-scale investment concerning themost extensive areas since foundation of the PRC. It will be the long-term implementationpolicy for grassland ecological protection. In this study,based on macro-perspective, the policy effects ofgrasslandproductivity, ecological protection, animal husbandryoutput, pastoralists＇ income were ana- lyzed. The resultsshow that, afterimplementation of the policy, naturalgrass production and grasslandtheoretical stocking rateincreased. The averagenatural grasslandlivestockoverloading ratedecreased significantly, comprehensivenationalgrasslandvegetation coverageis increasing. Besides, adult cattleandbeef yield arefluctuated. Sheep head, adult sheep, sheep production, milk productionincreasedin varying degrees. The per capita netincomeof farmers and pastoralists, livestock income, the proportion oflivestockincomewere higher than those beforeimplementation of the policy.

Soil Carbon Balance in a Native Temperate Grassland in the Xilin River Basin of Inner Mongolia

Based on historical data and field investigation, some major fluxes and reserves of carbon were estimated, and a tentative analysis of the soil carbon balance was made in a native grassland community in the Xilin River basin of Inner Mongolia. Major results were reported as follows: 1) Annual average carbon input from above-ground biomass production was 79.8 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1), and from root biomass to 30 cm. depth averaged 311.9 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). The summed mean annual carbon input of shoot and root materials in the study site was approximately 391.7 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). 2) The annual amount of above-ground biomass consumed by insects averaged 14.7 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1), and the carbon output by leaching or light-chemical oxidation was 3.2 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1) The annual evolution rate of CO2 from net soil respiration averaged 346.9 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1), and the summed mean annual output was approximately 364.8 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). 3) A mature, steady-state system could be assumed for the community for which growth and decay were approximately in balance, with a net carbon accumulation of about 26.9 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). Based on the soil organic carbon density of the field, the turnover Irate of soil carbon in 0 - 30 cm depth was calculated to be 6.2%, with a turnover time of 16 years.

Seasonal Dynamics of Biomass under Different Land Use Patterns

[Objective] The aim was to study seasonal dynamics of biomass under different land use patterns. [Methed] Aboveground biomass and underground biomass of plants under 3 different surface cover conditions of Stipa krylovii, Leymus chinensis and farmland were determined in growing season （ from May to October） of 2008. [ Result ] The aboveground biomass of Stipa krylovii, Leymus chinensis and farmland in August all reached the highest value, which of Stipa krylovii, Leymus chinensis and farmland was 287.91,117.05 and 193.59 g/m2, respectively. The total biomass of plant roots of the 3 plots in July all reached the highest value, which of Stipa krylovii, Leymus chinensis and farmland was 1 683.9, 1 601.9 and 513.9 g/m2, respectively. Leymus chinensis had the biggest biomass ratio of upper plant roots （0 - 15 cm） to lower plant roots （15 -30 cm）, Stipa krylovii took second place, and farmland had the smallest one. ~ Conclusion The research provides theoretical basis for the ecological environment protection of ecological fragile area.

Preliminary Study on the Nearc-ground Spectral Characteristic of the Degraded Meadow Grassland

IS1921 VF-256 type ground object spectrometer was used to extract the spectral data of the meadow grassland and bare land to obtain their refleotivity spectral characteristics. The experiment was carried out on the low mountain meadow steppe in the Saiwundu Village, Hargentai Town, West Ujumqin Banner, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia. The results showed that different ground objects had different reflectances. The spectral reflectance curve of the meadow steppe plant communities had obvious characteristics of peak and valley in the visible spectrum band, and had strong reflection in the near-infrared band. The reflection curve of the bare lands in the visible spectrum band was higher than that of the meadow grassland communities while inthe near-infrared band it was lower than that of the meadow grassland communities. Under different degradation gradients, the spectral reflectivity of the meadow steppe grassland communities increased with the enhancement of the degradation gradients. Under the same degradation gradient, the Stipa grandis communities had a lower visible light reflectivity than the Artemisia frigida communities but had a higher near-infrared reflectivity than the Artemisia frigida communities; different ground objects on the meadow steppe had different spectrum characteristic, and showed a certain discrepancies with the changes of the degradation level.

Advances in Grassland Ecosystem Research in Northern Tibetan Plateau

With the aggravation of global change, the response and adaptation of the unique ecosystem in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to global change have been increasingly concerned by scientific community day by day, which makes the sensitivity and fragility of this ecosystem in response to global change widely recognized by scholars. On the basis of introducing the present research process on the degenerate mechanisim, measures of and approaches to recovery, carbon cycle and primary productivity toward global change, we put forward several propositions on studying the alpine grassland ecosystem in Northern Tibetan Plateau.

Research Progress of Vulnerability Assessment on Grassland Ecosystem under Climate Change

[Objective] The aim was to review on vulnerability evaluation of grassland ecosystem under climate change.[Method] In the research,vulnerability evaluation methods of ecosystem under climate changes,at home and abroad,and the related cases and research progress in China were reviewed.In addition,the future of evaluation research was predicted.[Result] Ecosystem vulnerability to climate change is an important part of climate change research.It is necessary and urgent to improve evaluation methods and reduce uncertainty of future vulnerability evaluation to make evaluation more comprehensive and objective.Furthermore,evaluation on effects of human activity on natural ecosystem vulnerability should be highlighted.[Conclusion] The research provided reference for establishment of a new management model for ecosystem adaptability to climate and sustainable development of grasslands in northern China.

Flow Cytometric Evidence for Hydroxyl Radical-induced Apoptosis in Tobacco Protoplasts

Protoplasts prepared from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cultivar BY-2) suspension cells have similar morphological characteristics to those in animal cells. The hallmarks of apoptosis such as condensation and peripheral distribution of nuclei, TUNEL positive reaction, and DNA ladders were observed when tobacco protoplasts were treated with the hydroxyl radical generating system (1.0 mmol/L FeSO4/0.5 mmol/L H2O2). In animals, the loss of transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) and the exposure of phospholipid phosphatidylserine (PS) are believed to be the main apoptosis events. To test whether these significant processes take place in plants, flow cytometry was used to detect annexin V binding and changes in DeltaPsi(m). Results showed that the PS turned out from inner membrane and DeltaPsi(m) gradually decreased during the apoptosis. All these apoptotic characteristics proved that hydroxyl radicals can cause typical programmed cell death (PCD) in tobacco protoplasts and this design can be served as an effective experiment system to explore the mechanism of plant apoptosis.

Temporal-Spatial Variances of Holocene Precipitation at the Marginal Area of the East Asian Monsoon Influences from Pollen Evidence

The woodland-steppe ecotone in the. southern Nei Mongol Plateau is located at the northern edge of the east Asian monsoon influences. A marked southeastern - northwestern (SE - NW) precipitation gradient exists in this region. Quantitative reconstruction of palaeo-precipitation of this region is helpful to reveal the development of monsoon climate and to predict die future desertification. Based on modern vegetation and surface pollen studies, a pollen-precipitation transfer function in the study region was established. Pollen data from three sediment sequences within the ecotone were used to reconstruct palaeo-precipitation during the Holocene. The processes of precipitation changes in the three sequences were quite different. There was a tendency of precipitation declined from the onset of the Holocene to 1 100 a BP in Haoluku. But, in Liuzhouwan and Xiaoniuchang, both located south of Haoluku, the annual precipitation reached highest values during 7 800 - 6 200 a BP and 7 200 - 5 000 a BP, respectively. The influences of southwestern (SW) monsoon and the variances of topographical conditions have possibly caused these temporal-spatial variances.

Influences of Family Ranches Management Mode on Plant Community Characteristic in Hulunber Meadow Steppe

[Objective] The aim was to explore the management mode on optimal re-sources al ocation of family ranch in meadow steppe. [Method] Three double repre-sentative family ranches were selected in meadow steppe of Hulunber Old Barag Banner, and the study was carried out with the baseline survey. Three family ranches were selected as the demonstrative households for the corporation study, while other three family ranches with the similar conditions were looked as the non-demonstrative households for the comparison. Demonstrative households of the fami-ly ranches reduced the stocking rate, optimized the flock structure and took a winter feeding and other means to explore the different management models on plant com-munity characteristic of family ranch. [Result] The seasonal dynamic of community characteristic in family ranches showed the single-peaks curves. The seasonal dy-namics of community coverage, height and biomass in the demonstrative households showed higher compared with the non-demonstrative households, and community density in the experiment households was lower than that of the control experiment households. Community coverage, height and biomass of degraded grassland in family ranch have a great improve after optimization of management. Community coverage, height , density and biomass were increasing in fencing plot, but decreas-ing in free grazing area. Enclosure improved grassland coverage, vegetation height, density and forage yield. Leymus chinensis played an important role in plant com-munity. The important values of Leymus chinensis, Stipa baicalensis, Cleistogenes squarrosa, and Carex duriuscula were high. Leymus chinensis important value in the demonstrative households of optimal management was higher than that in the non-demonstrative households, and Carex duriuscula important value of the non-demon-strative households was significantly higher than that of the demonstrative house-holds. The indexes of Margalef richnes,Shannon-Wiener diversity, Simpson diversity and Pielou uniformity showed that the demonstrative households were higher than the non-demonstrative households. [Conclusion] The research provides theoretical ref-erences for sustainable development of pastures dominated by family ranch.

Effects of Temperature and Nitrogen Input on Nitrogen Mineralization in Alpine Soils on Tibetan Plateau

[Objective] The study aimed to investigate the effects of temperature and nitrogen input on nitrogen mineralization in alpine soils on the Tibetan Plateau.[Method]An incubation experiment in the laboratory was conducted using three alpine soils.These soils were collected from the top 10 cm depth in three grassland types：alpine meadow in Haibei,alpine steppe in Naqu and alpine wetland in Dangxiong.[Result] Temperature significantly affected nitrogen mineralization in alpine soils of three grassland types.The mineralization rate in alpine steppe soil rose with the rise of temperature,while the mineralization rate in the alpine meadow soil and alpine wetland soil decreased with the rise of temperature.Nitrogen input had no significant effect on nitrogen mineralization in the alpine meadow soil,but significantly increased nitrogen mineralization in the alpine steppe soil and the alpine wetland soil.Grassland types significantly affected nitrogen mineralization in alpine grasslands.[Conclusion] The effects of temperature and nitrogen input on nitrogen mineralization in alpine soils on the Tibetan Plateau were significant.And those different effects depended on different types of grassland.

Using Isolated Embryo Sacs and Early Proembryos for Localization of Calmodulin mRNA Before and After Fertilization in Nicotiana

An in situ hybridization technique for localization of calmodulin(CaM) mRNA in isolated entire embryo sacs and proembryos in Nicotiana tabacum L.cv.W38 has been developed. This technique can be applied to small amounts of materials in which a whole view of CaM mRNA distribution can be obtained. The authors revealed that CaM mRNA expression changes dramatically before and after fertilization. Especially interesting is that a prominent CaM mRNA band appears between the egg apparatus and polar nuclei temporarily during the period of pollination and fertilization. The band disappears just prior to fertilization and expands to a fan_shaped region that occupies the micropylar portion of the embryo sac. After fertilization, CaM mRNA accumulates in the elongated zygotes with higher concentration in their chalazal portion than in the micropylar portion. Such an asymmetrical pattern continues to manifest in the early proembryos. It is supposed that CaM mRNA may be involved in the early events and signaling steps associated with double fertilization and zygote polarization in higher plants.

A Simulative Study on Effects of Climate Warming on Nutrient Contents and In Vitro Digestibility of Herbage Grown in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

The increasing trend of air temperature along with the climate warming has been accepted gradually by scientists and by the general public. Qinghai_Xizang Plateau, a unique geographic unit due to high_altitude climate, is one of the most susceptible regions to climate warming. Its ecosystem is very fragile and sensitive to climate change. In order to get a better understanding of the impacts of climate warming on the nutrient contents of herbage grown in Qinghai_Xizang Plateau, a simulative study was implemented at Daban Moutain by using temperature differences resulted from sites selected at different altitudes and nutrient contents and in vitro digestibility were determined for assessing the quality of the grown herbage. There were significant downtrends in crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) contents of herbage along with the increase of temperature. It had a positive correlation between temperature and content of acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) in herbage. In vitro digestibility of herbage decreased along with the increase of temperature. The results of this study indicated that climate warming significantly influence nutrient contents and in vitro digestibility of herbage grown in Qinghai_Xizang Plateau. It is suggested that the future climate warming especially the gradual rise of the night temperature could cause negative effect on herbage quality grown in Qinghai_Xizang Plateau by decreasing CP, EE, and NFE contents and increasing some indigestible ingredients such as crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), ADF, and ADL. This, consequently, decreases the ruminant assimilation ability.

Vegetation landscape structure and dynamics in sandy forest-steppe ecotone

Sandy forest-steppe ecotone in Baiyinaobao Natural Reserve of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China is one of the special landscape types in forest-steppe vegetation zone in China. Vegetation landscape types, landscape patches, and patch size were measured by the field investigation, forest photograph, and airscape. The structure of landscape patches in sandy forest-steppe ecotone, including composition structure, and size structure, was studied and the dynamics and transformation of landscape patches were analyzed. The data obtained in this study could provide theoretical basis for the research on vegetation landscape in forest-steppe ecotones and other vegetation types.

No C_4 Plants Found at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station in Qinghai, China: Evidence from Stable Carbon Isotope Studies

Using the measurement of stable carbon isotopes in leaves as a tool to investigate photosynthetic pathway of 102 plant species grown at an alpine meadow ecosystem, at the foot of the Qilian Mountain, Qinghai, China. The results indicate that the delta C-13 values of plants have a narrow range from -28.24parts per thousand to -24.84parts per thousand, which means that none of the species examined belongs to C-4 and crassulaceous acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway and all of these species perform photosynthesis through the C-3 pathway. This is likely due to a long-term adaptation to environments at the alpine meadow ecosystem.

Effect of Planting in Furrow and Whole Plasticfilm Mulching on Double Ridges on Improvement of Degraded Desert Grassland

[Objective] This study aimed to provide theoretical basis and technologies for the application of planting in furrow and whole plastic-film mulching on double ridges. [Method] The conventional method was used to re-seed the bunch Gramineous forage in the degraded desert grassland in Yanchi, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Four kinds of conservation treatments, namely, ridging with black film mulching, ridging with transparent film mulching, ridging with no mulching and the flatplanting with no ridging and mulching were conducted to the forage to analyze the effects of each treatment on soil moisture and seedling growth. [Result] From July to November, the moisture contents of ridging with black film mulching, ridging with transparent film mulching, ridging with no mulching and the flatplanting were respectivery 9.88%, 9.24%, 8.75% and 8.13%, showing significant differences among the treatments; the survival rates of re-seeding forage were 96.2% , 93.4% , 45.6% and 28.3% , and the mulching treatment showed significant difference with the unmulching treatments in survival rate. The treatment with black film mulching showed great advantage that its moisture content on ridge top had the buffering effect of ＂load shifting＂, and the soil moisture content of black mulching treatment increased 21.5% than the flatplanting. Black film mulching also had the largest water supplement amount in soil below 1 m. Although mulching cost too much, its overall benefits were higher than that with no mulching. [Conclusion] This study lays the experimental basis for the application of planting in furrow and whole plastic-film mulching on double ridges in improving degraded grassland desertification.

Isolation and Identification of the Pathogen Causing Skin Ulcer Disease in Cynoglossus semilaevis Günther and Its Sensitivity to Chinese Herbal Medicine

In this study, the pathogen causing skin ulcer disease in Cynoglossus semilaevis Gunther was isolated for morphological observation, physiological and bio- chemical identification. According to the result, the isolated pathogen was identified as Vibrio harveyi. The results of recurrent infection of C. semilaevis Gonther showed that the pathogen was strongly pathogenic to C. semilaevis Gunther. In or- der to explore the pathogenesis, outer membrane protein （OMP） gene of C. semi- laevis Gunther was detected by PCR. The results showed that all the three repre- sentative strains harbored OMP gene. According to the results of sensitivity test of the pathogen to Chinese herbal medicine, Galla Chinensis, Fructus Mume, Fructus Hippophae and Lignum Sappan exerted strong antibacterial effects against V. harveyr, Pericarpium Granati exhibited slight antibacterial effect against V. harveyi; Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Rhizoma Acori GramineL Herba Houttuyniae, Herba Portulacae, Herba Andrographis, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Herba Menthae Heplocalycis had little effect on V. harveyi. Galla Chinensis, Fructus Mume, Fructus Hippophae and Lignum Sappan were prepared into three prescriptions, among which prescription 1 （Galla Chinensis ＋ Fructus Mume） exhibited the strongest antibacterial effect.