Formation, development and degeneration of Tamarix taklamakanensis M.T. Liu community may be affected by wind-sand disturbance. On the basis of field survey and experiments that took eight years from 1994, it was foun...Formation, development and degeneration of Tamarix taklamakanensis M.T. Liu community may be affected by wind-sand disturbance. On the basis of field survey and experiments that took eight years from 1994, it was found that the plant community was formed in wet and low-lying land, developed in sand burying land, and died out in the land with strong wind erosion and severe sand burying. In the initial stage of the community formation, the low-lying land that was formed by wind erosion provided a suitable habitat for seed germination and plant rooting, but salt stress from ground water reduced seedling survival rate. In the developing stage of the community, sand burying stimulated vigorous growth of the shrubs. In the degenerative stage of the community, the wind erosion and sand burying resulted in dying out of the shrubs. It is therefore concluded that wind-sand disturbance has a positive role in the formation and development of the community, and is in a close association with the process of the community degeneration. Taking the habitat of T taklamakanensis into account, it may be appropriate to note that, under the conditions of frequent disturbance and severe stress, desert pioneer species are adaptable and able to survive. This might be a supplement to the CSR strategy.展开更多
This paper reports a geomorphologic landscape investigation, vegetationsurvey and soil sampling at 14 sites across the Gurbantunggut Desert between87°37′09″-88°24′04″E and 44°14′04″-45°41′52...This paper reports a geomorphologic landscape investigation, vegetationsurvey and soil sampling at 14 sites across the Gurbantunggut Desert between87°37′09″-88°24′04″E and 44°14′04″-45°41′52″N. The study encountered 8 species of lowtrees and shrubs, 5 of perennial herbs, 8 of annual plants and 48 of ephemeral and ephemeroidplants. These species of plants represent one-third of the species found in the GurbantunggutDesert, and their communities make up a large proportion of desert vegetation with great landscapesignificance. In the investigation we found that the plant communities are accordingly succeededwith the spatial variation of macro-ecoenvironment. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) andCorrelation Analysis (CA) we found that the micro-ecoenvironment heterogeneity of aeolian sandysoil's physical and chemical properties such as soil nutrient, soil moisture, soil salt, pH etc.only impacted the diversity of herb synusia (PIEherb) of the desert, with a negative correlation.Meanwhile, the impact of microhabitat on the plant community pattern with an antagonisticinteraction made vegetation's eco-distribution in a temporary equilibrium.展开更多
Many factors can affect the sediment deposition and soil erosion process in riparian zone, including terrain, sediment transport and water level fluctuations. Clarifying the factors influencing sediment deposition pro...Many factors can affect the sediment deposition and soil erosion process in riparian zone, including terrain, sediment transport and water level fluctuations. Clarifying the factors influencing sediment deposition process in the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoirs is an important problem to determine the key area of sediment deposition and its trend of development in the study area. In order to reveal the influence of these environmental factors on the sediment deposition in riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, this study investigated 1) the amount of deposited sediment in different environmental conditions, 2) the potential factors affecting sediment deposition in riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, 3) the relationship between the deposited sediment amount and these factors previously mentioned using correlation analysis, and 4) the influence of human activities considered as an additional factor. This study found that 1) slope gradient, elevation, inundating duration and human activities were the main factors influencing sedimentation in riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, and 2) the impact of each factor varied with spaces. Specifically, in the upper reach from Jiangjin to Fuling, human activities such as gravel dredging, bank revetment and ports and wharfs constructing disturbed considerable amounts of deposited sediment, as a result, there was no natural law to dictate the distribution. In the middle reach from Fuling to Fengjie, slope gradient and inundating duration were the controlling factors, and the sediment deposition amount was greater in the areas with a gentler slope or lower elevation. Water flow on gentler slopes generally had lower velocity, resulting in more sediment to deposit. Sites with lower elevations would be drowned by sediment-laden flow with a longer duration resulting from hydrologic regime controlled by the operating strategy of the Three Gorges Reservoir, leading to a larger amount of sediment deposition. In the lower reach from Fengjie to Zigni, slope gradient was similar to the middle reach, performing a primary factor, while other factors showed little relationship with sediment amount.展开更多
This paper reports the investigation of artificial vegetation communities on excavated slopes in a construction perturbed area of the Xiangjiaba hydroelectric power station in the Jinsha River Basin, P. R. China. Belt...This paper reports the investigation of artificial vegetation communities on excavated slopes in a construction perturbed area of the Xiangjiaba hydroelectric power station in the Jinsha River Basin, P. R. China. Belt transect and random quadrats were used in sampling and recording the vegetation of the four selected plots on the slopes. The community of each plot was characterized based on the coverage, relative importance value, richness, diversity, evenness of species derived from the survey data. Problems of these communities were identified and corresponding regulation measures were proposed to accelerate the positive succession process of the ecosystem. It is demonstrated that the artificial vegetation restoration on the excavated slope has improved the ecological environment.展开更多
Aims Among terrestrial ecosystems,coastal sandy dunes are particularly prone to alien plant invasion.Many studies related the invasion of dune habitats to anthropic causes,but less is known about the role of soil prop...Aims Among terrestrial ecosystems,coastal sandy dunes are particularly prone to alien plant invasion.Many studies related the invasion of dune habitats to anthropic causes,but less is known about the role of soil properties and plant traits in plant invasion.In this study,we tested the relationships between soil features and alien plant invasion in dune systems,focusing on the interplay between soil nutrients,soil salinity and plant functional traits.Methods Study sites were sandy barrier islands of the Marano and Grado lagoon(northern Adriatic Sea).One hundred plots(4 m×4 m)were selected within 10 areas according to the main habitats occurring along the ecological gradient of dune system(foredune,backdune and saltmarsh).In each plot,we recorded all plant species occurrence and abundance and we collected a soil core.For each soil sample,soil texture,conductivity(as proxy of soil salinity),organic carbon and nitrogen content were analyzed and related to the species number and cover of native and alien plants.Variation of main reproductive and vegetative functional traits among habitats was also analyzed for both alien and native species.Important Findings Soil properties were strongly related to overall plant diversity,by differently affecting alien and native species pools.In backdune,the most invaded habitat,a high soil conductivity limited the number of alien species,whereas the content of soil organic carbon increased along with alien plant abundance,suggesting also the occurrence of potential feedback processes between plant invasion and soil.We found a significant convergence between native and alien plant functional trait spectra only in backdune habitat,where environmental conditions ameliorate and plant competition increases.Our findings suggest that in harsh conditions only native specialized plants can thrive while at intermediate conditions,soil properties gradient acts in synergy with plant traits to curb/facilitate alien plant richness.展开更多
Microbes and microbial carbonates in reef-flat and coral community dynamics and submarine geomorphologic features in reef crest and fore reef of Yongxing Island,the Xisha Islands,South China Sea,were studied by means ...Microbes and microbial carbonates in reef-flat and coral community dynamics and submarine geomorphologic features in reef crest and fore reef of Yongxing Island,the Xisha Islands,South China Sea,were studied by means of scuba diving,underwater investigation,and line intercept transect survey.Studies indicate a very high coral mortality with few living corals in the reef flat of Yongxing Island.Moreover,macro algae,sea grass and cyanobacteria are common in reef flat.Microbes and microbially induced carbonates occur in reef flat.Living corals grow mainly in the reef crest and fore reef,but are also declined dramatically.From coast to off shore,the southeast reef flat of Yongxing Island can be divided into beach,inner reef flat,outer reef flat,reef flat front(reef crest and fore reef),and fore-reef slope settings.Sedimentary facies include coast,reef flat,reef crest and fore reef,and fore-reef slope.Reefal carbonate sediments are composed of coral skeletons and framework,coral fragments,bioclasts,and lime mud.With the deterioration of environment and water quality,the coral communities tend to be distributed in the reef crest and fore reef with clean sea water,well circulation and moderate water energy.Reef flat is occupied mainly by the macro algae and Heliopora coerulea communities.The coverage statistics on the reef crest demonstrate that the coverage of Acropora cytherea is more than 28% and represents a dominant species with wave-resistant ecological type.Sedimentary characteristics and geomorphologic features are different between the southeast and northwest reef-flat fronts(reef crest and fore reef) of Yongxing Island.The former shows discontinuously tidal channels in outer reef flat and different dimensional and deep reef ponds in reef crest and fore reef,and the latter presents a typical spur-and-groove system.Microbes(cyanobacteria Lyngbya sp.) occur generally in the inner reef flat and reef ponds of reef crest with restricted water circulation.Widely algae growth indicates a eutrophic environment,and the common microbes on the coral surface in the reef flat and reef ponds also demonstrate eutrophication in seawater and deteriorated water quality.展开更多
Coastal dunes represent priority habitats for conservation due to the provision of valuable ecosystem services such as land protection,water supply or biodiversity conservation.Soil microbial communities are of crucia...Coastal dunes represent priority habitats for conservation due to the provision of valuable ecosystem services such as land protection,water supply or biodiversity conservation.Soil microbial communities are of crucial importance to maintain plant diversity due to harsh environmental conditions,water limitation and nutrient scarcity.Invasive alien plants represent a major threat to ecosystem conservation.Here,we explored different impacts of Carpobrotus edulis,a succulent plant invading coastal areas worldwide,on the function and structure of bacterial communities.Sand represents a challenging substrate due to low organic matter content and limited microbial activity.We optimized bacterial extraction for functional evaluation before assessing ecosystem impacts produced by C.edulis.We compared 12 extracting procedures combining different soil storage,sample amount and extracting solutions on the functional activity of sand communities through the community-level physiological profile.We further explored the function(using Biolog Ecoplates)and structure[using polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(PCR-DGGE)]of bacterial communities from dunes invaded by C.edulis.Saline solution consistently increased bacterial cells detected by cytometry(P≤0.001).Principal component analysis suggested a limited temporal framework(0–24 h)in which community function can be explored without significant alterations in C substrate consumption.Changes under C.edulis invasion exhibited a different pattern of C substrate utilization comparing native and non-native zones(interspecific),but also between native zones(intraspecific),suggesting that functional impacts are site-dependent.Complementary,results obtained from PCR-DGGE indicated that the bacterial community structure of native dunes significantly differed from dunes invaded by C.edulis.展开更多
文摘Formation, development and degeneration of Tamarix taklamakanensis M.T. Liu community may be affected by wind-sand disturbance. On the basis of field survey and experiments that took eight years from 1994, it was found that the plant community was formed in wet and low-lying land, developed in sand burying land, and died out in the land with strong wind erosion and severe sand burying. In the initial stage of the community formation, the low-lying land that was formed by wind erosion provided a suitable habitat for seed germination and plant rooting, but salt stress from ground water reduced seedling survival rate. In the developing stage of the community, sand burying stimulated vigorous growth of the shrubs. In the degenerative stage of the community, the wind erosion and sand burying resulted in dying out of the shrubs. It is therefore concluded that wind-sand disturbance has a positive role in the formation and development of the community, and is in a close association with the process of the community degeneration. Taking the habitat of T taklamakanensis into account, it may be appropriate to note that, under the conditions of frequent disturbance and severe stress, desert pioneer species are adaptable and able to survive. This might be a supplement to the CSR strategy.
基金Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region′s Natural Science Foundation Project,The special support project from the Director′s fund of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geology,国家自然科学基金
文摘This paper reports a geomorphologic landscape investigation, vegetationsurvey and soil sampling at 14 sites across the Gurbantunggut Desert between87°37′09″-88°24′04″E and 44°14′04″-45°41′52″N. The study encountered 8 species of lowtrees and shrubs, 5 of perennial herbs, 8 of annual plants and 48 of ephemeral and ephemeroidplants. These species of plants represent one-third of the species found in the GurbantunggutDesert, and their communities make up a large proportion of desert vegetation with great landscapesignificance. In the investigation we found that the plant communities are accordingly succeededwith the spatial variation of macro-ecoenvironment. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) andCorrelation Analysis (CA) we found that the micro-ecoenvironment heterogeneity of aeolian sandysoil's physical and chemical properties such as soil nutrient, soil moisture, soil salt, pH etc.only impacted the diversity of herb synusia (PIEherb) of the desert, with a negative correlation.Meanwhile, the impact of microhabitat on the plant community pattern with an antagonisticinteraction made vegetation's eco-distribution in a temporary equilibrium.
基金funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.KFJ-EW-STS-008,KFJSW-STS-175)
文摘Many factors can affect the sediment deposition and soil erosion process in riparian zone, including terrain, sediment transport and water level fluctuations. Clarifying the factors influencing sediment deposition process in the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoirs is an important problem to determine the key area of sediment deposition and its trend of development in the study area. In order to reveal the influence of these environmental factors on the sediment deposition in riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, this study investigated 1) the amount of deposited sediment in different environmental conditions, 2) the potential factors affecting sediment deposition in riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, 3) the relationship between the deposited sediment amount and these factors previously mentioned using correlation analysis, and 4) the influence of human activities considered as an additional factor. This study found that 1) slope gradient, elevation, inundating duration and human activities were the main factors influencing sedimentation in riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, and 2) the impact of each factor varied with spaces. Specifically, in the upper reach from Jiangjin to Fuling, human activities such as gravel dredging, bank revetment and ports and wharfs constructing disturbed considerable amounts of deposited sediment, as a result, there was no natural law to dictate the distribution. In the middle reach from Fuling to Fengjie, slope gradient and inundating duration were the controlling factors, and the sediment deposition amount was greater in the areas with a gentler slope or lower elevation. Water flow on gentler slopes generally had lower velocity, resulting in more sediment to deposit. Sites with lower elevations would be drowned by sediment-laden flow with a longer duration resulting from hydrologic regime controlled by the operating strategy of the Three Gorges Reservoir, leading to a larger amount of sediment deposition. In the lower reach from Fengjie to Zigni, slope gradient was similar to the middle reach, performing a primary factor, while other factors showed little relationship with sediment amount.
基金Funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50879043)the National S & T Support Program of China during the 11th Five-Year Plan Period (No. 2006BAC10B04)
文摘This paper reports the investigation of artificial vegetation communities on excavated slopes in a construction perturbed area of the Xiangjiaba hydroelectric power station in the Jinsha River Basin, P. R. China. Belt transect and random quadrats were used in sampling and recording the vegetation of the four selected plots on the slopes. The community of each plot was characterized based on the coverage, relative importance value, richness, diversity, evenness of species derived from the survey data. Problems of these communities were identified and corresponding regulation measures were proposed to accelerate the positive succession process of the ecosystem. It is demonstrated that the artificial vegetation restoration on the excavated slope has improved the ecological environment.
基金supported by Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia and University of Udine(grant number Morphological and environmental study of the Marano and Grado Lagoon CUP D26D14000230002).
文摘Aims Among terrestrial ecosystems,coastal sandy dunes are particularly prone to alien plant invasion.Many studies related the invasion of dune habitats to anthropic causes,but less is known about the role of soil properties and plant traits in plant invasion.In this study,we tested the relationships between soil features and alien plant invasion in dune systems,focusing on the interplay between soil nutrients,soil salinity and plant functional traits.Methods Study sites were sandy barrier islands of the Marano and Grado lagoon(northern Adriatic Sea).One hundred plots(4 m×4 m)were selected within 10 areas according to the main habitats occurring along the ecological gradient of dune system(foredune,backdune and saltmarsh).In each plot,we recorded all plant species occurrence and abundance and we collected a soil core.For each soil sample,soil texture,conductivity(as proxy of soil salinity),organic carbon and nitrogen content were analyzed and related to the species number and cover of native and alien plants.Variation of main reproductive and vegetative functional traits among habitats was also analyzed for both alien and native species.Important Findings Soil properties were strongly related to overall plant diversity,by differently affecting alien and native species pools.In backdune,the most invaded habitat,a high soil conductivity limited the number of alien species,whereas the content of soil organic carbon increased along with alien plant abundance,suggesting also the occurrence of potential feedback processes between plant invasion and soil.We found a significant convergence between native and alien plant functional trait spectra only in backdune habitat,where environmental conditions ameliorate and plant competition increases.Our findings suggest that in harsh conditions only native specialized plants can thrive while at intermediate conditions,soil properties gradient acts in synergy with plant traits to curb/facilitate alien plant richness.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.40976030,41006029),Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.41210104029)Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No.SQ201114)
文摘Microbes and microbial carbonates in reef-flat and coral community dynamics and submarine geomorphologic features in reef crest and fore reef of Yongxing Island,the Xisha Islands,South China Sea,were studied by means of scuba diving,underwater investigation,and line intercept transect survey.Studies indicate a very high coral mortality with few living corals in the reef flat of Yongxing Island.Moreover,macro algae,sea grass and cyanobacteria are common in reef flat.Microbes and microbially induced carbonates occur in reef flat.Living corals grow mainly in the reef crest and fore reef,but are also declined dramatically.From coast to off shore,the southeast reef flat of Yongxing Island can be divided into beach,inner reef flat,outer reef flat,reef flat front(reef crest and fore reef),and fore-reef slope settings.Sedimentary facies include coast,reef flat,reef crest and fore reef,and fore-reef slope.Reefal carbonate sediments are composed of coral skeletons and framework,coral fragments,bioclasts,and lime mud.With the deterioration of environment and water quality,the coral communities tend to be distributed in the reef crest and fore reef with clean sea water,well circulation and moderate water energy.Reef flat is occupied mainly by the macro algae and Heliopora coerulea communities.The coverage statistics on the reef crest demonstrate that the coverage of Acropora cytherea is more than 28% and represents a dominant species with wave-resistant ecological type.Sedimentary characteristics and geomorphologic features are different between the southeast and northwest reef-flat fronts(reef crest and fore reef) of Yongxing Island.The former shows discontinuously tidal channels in outer reef flat and different dimensional and deep reef ponds in reef crest and fore reef,and the latter presents a typical spur-and-groove system.Microbes(cyanobacteria Lyngbya sp.) occur generally in the inner reef flat and reef ponds of reef crest with restricted water circulation.Widely algae growth indicates a eutrophic environment,and the common microbes on the coral surface in the reef flat and reef ponds also demonstrate eutrophication in seawater and deteriorated water quality.
基金P.S.-A.was funded by the Regional Council of Education,University and Professional Training(Conselleria de Educacion,Universidade e Formacion Profesional)from the Government of Galicia(Xunta de Galicia)through the annual Postdoctoral Plan'Axudas de apoio a etapa de formacion posdoutoral nas universidades doSistema universitario de Galicia'(grant ref.ED481B-2019-088)L.G.was funded by Xunta de Galicia,Spain(CITACA Strategic Partnership,grantref.:ED431E2018/07).
文摘Coastal dunes represent priority habitats for conservation due to the provision of valuable ecosystem services such as land protection,water supply or biodiversity conservation.Soil microbial communities are of crucial importance to maintain plant diversity due to harsh environmental conditions,water limitation and nutrient scarcity.Invasive alien plants represent a major threat to ecosystem conservation.Here,we explored different impacts of Carpobrotus edulis,a succulent plant invading coastal areas worldwide,on the function and structure of bacterial communities.Sand represents a challenging substrate due to low organic matter content and limited microbial activity.We optimized bacterial extraction for functional evaluation before assessing ecosystem impacts produced by C.edulis.We compared 12 extracting procedures combining different soil storage,sample amount and extracting solutions on the functional activity of sand communities through the community-level physiological profile.We further explored the function(using Biolog Ecoplates)and structure[using polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(PCR-DGGE)]of bacterial communities from dunes invaded by C.edulis.Saline solution consistently increased bacterial cells detected by cytometry(P≤0.001).Principal component analysis suggested a limited temporal framework(0–24 h)in which community function can be explored without significant alterations in C substrate consumption.Changes under C.edulis invasion exhibited a different pattern of C substrate utilization comparing native and non-native zones(interspecific),but also between native zones(intraspecific),suggesting that functional impacts are site-dependent.Complementary,results obtained from PCR-DGGE indicated that the bacterial community structure of native dunes significantly differed from dunes invaded by C.edulis.