高原土生动物低氧适应机制研究进展

高原低氧适应是高原医学研究的核心,高原低氧适应的机制主要是围绕缺氧而建立起的一系列复杂的代偿。高原土生动物是研究高原低氧适应的理想模型,以藏猪、高原鼠兔、藏羚羊和蕨麻小型猪为例,研究者们多以其血液学特征、肺血管结构和功能及低氧适应相关基因等方面作为基础研究,但目前在细胞及分子水平研究不够深入,研究土生动物低氧适应机制,可以为高原实验动物的开发研究提供理论基础。

含水率和温度影响下的高原土体力学特性试验研究

利用自主研制的土体冻融循环剪切试验仪,开展了温度和含水率影响下的青藏高原土体力学特性正交试验,从压缩特性、冻结和冻胀、剪切特性3个方面对土体进行分析。结果表明:土样压缩过程的法向位移随含水率的增大而增加,压缩量与法向应力关系可用双曲线模型进行描述。不同含水率的土体从0℃降至−12℃过程中均产生了土体冻结现象,含水率12%的土体发生冻胀时的温度集中在−3~−2℃范围内。温度越低,土体的应力软化特性越明显,且峰值剪切应力和残余剪切应力越大,土体在最佳含水率附近时峰值剪切应力最大。−12℃土体的法向位移变化规律在不同试验条件下均表现出剪胀特性,而12℃和0℃土体随着含水率的增加由胀缩特性并逐渐变化至完全以剪缩特性为主。内摩擦角随含水率和温度的增大而减小,黏聚力随温度的升高而减小,在最佳含水率附近最大。

青藏高原土生动物血液流变学特征以及在平原“脱适应”的改变

通过对高原土生动物不同海拔血液流变学特征及其到平原后血液流变学变化的观察,表明这类动物的红细胞压积随海拔高度增加,只轻度增高,全血粘滞性较低,红细胞聚集性较小,这既有利于红细胞携带更多的氧到组织也利于组织灌注,在血液携氧和运氧过程中发挥了最佳效率。这类动物到平原初期,红细胞压积及全血粘度极度降低,经过一阶段机体的调整,红细胞压积及全血粘度逐渐回升,其表现与移居高原动物再返平原后的反应截然不同。

黄土高原的土壤侵蚀与农业格局

一、对黄土高原土址侵蚀不可掉以轻心 我国的黄土高原是世界上少见的巨大水土流失区之一。它所流失的黄土不仅染黄了一条河一黄河,而且染黄了一片海一黄海。整个华北平原也是在漫长的历史时期中,主要依靠黄河带来的泥沙沉积而成的。 这一现象向我们揭示,黄土高原的水土流失可以说与黄土的形成同时发生,这是一个地质过程。何况黄土高原现在仍在缓慢地上升。它随着与海平面高差的加大,水土流失的势能也相应增加。可见水土流失的地质过程,并未出现减退的趋势。从这个意义上讲,我们所面临的黄土高原水土流失问题,是个涉及自然界基本规律的大问题,何况黄土本身又有易被侵蚀的种种特性。因此我们应该清醒地看到,黄土高原有农业丰产的种种条件,也包含着一定的危险因素,切不可等闲视之。

Variation in the permafrost active layer over the Tibetan Plateau during 1980–2020

The active layer,acting as an intermediary of water and heat exchange between permafrost and atmosphere,greatly influences biogeochemical cycles in permafrost areas and is notably sensitive to climate fluctuations.Utilizing the Chinese Meteorological Forcing Dataset to drive the Community Land Model,version 5.0,this study simulates the spatial and temporal characteristics of active layer thickness(ALT)on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)from 1980 to 2020.Results show that the ALT,primarily observed in the central and western parts of the TP where there are insufficient station observations,exhibits significant interdecadal changes after 2000.The average thickness on the TP decreases from 2.54 m during 1980–1999 to 2.28 m during 2000–2020.This change is mainly observed in the western permafrost region,displaying a sharp regional inconsistency compared to the eastern region.A persistent increasing trend of ALT is found in the eastern permafrost region,rather than an interdecadal change.The aforementioned changes in ALT are closely tied to the variations in the surrounding atmospheric environment,particularly air temperature.Additionally,the area of the active layer on the TP displays a profound interdecadal change around 2000,arising from the permafrost thawing and forming.It consistently decreases before 2000 but barely changes after 2000.The regional variation in the permafrost active layer over the TP revealed in this study indicates a complex response of the contemporary climate under global warming.

Structure and functional heterogeneity of soil microbial communities in different farmland types on the Loess Plateau

Background,aim,and scope Soil microbes are important drivers of nutrient transformation and energy f low.Reclaiming forest land for agricultural use may have profound effects on soil properties and microbial communities.However,the response of soil microbial communities to soil reclamation in the dryland agroecosystem is less understood.Therefore,it is necessary to investigate the changes of soil microbial communities driven by land use conversion to promote nutrient cycling in reclaimed farmland.Materials and methods Based on the metagenomic technique,we evaluated the microbial composition and function of the newly created farmland(NF)after reclamation with two types of traditional farmland(slope farmland(SF),checkdam farmland(CF))on the Loess Plateau,and explored the response of nutrient cycling function to dominant genera and soil properties.Results The results showed that Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,and Acidobacteria were prevalent in the three types of farmlands.Compared with SF and CF,NF increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Nocardioides,as well as genes related to amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism.The relative abundance of functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen cycling in the NF was higher than that in the traditional farmland(SF and CF).The relative abundance of nutrient cycling functional genes was positively correlated with dominant genera in the three types of farmlands.Except for pH,soil physicochemical factors were negatively correlated with genes related to amino acid metabolism and carbon cycle.Discussion Previous studies have shown that the nutrient conditions of the soil may intensify the competition between the eutrophic and oligotrophic microbial populations.After long-term cultivation and fertilization,the soil properties of traditional farmland were significantly different from those of NF,leading to the differentiation of dominant microbial groups.Microbes usually have functional redundancy to cope with changing environments.Soil microbes in traditional farmland may contain more genes related to replication and repair,cell growth and death,and environmental adaptation in response to disturbances caused by agricultural practices.On the contrary,the NF was less disturbed by agricultural activities,and the soil properties were more similar to forest land,so the carbon and nitrogen cycle function genes were more abundant.The nutrient cycling function was affected by the abundance of microbial dominant groups and soil properties,which may be related to the availability of soil nutrients and agricultural disturbance in different farmlands.Aspects of soil microbial-driven nutrient cycling in agriculture could be regulated in sustainable method.Conclusions The change from forest land to farmland kept more carbon and nitrogen cycling function in the newly created farmland,while long-term agricultural activities have drastically changed the functional structure of traditional farmland,resulting in the nutrient cycling function more concentrated to meet the needs of crop growth.Recommendations and perspectives Hence,it is necessary to apply sustainable agricultural method to regulate microbial-driven nutrient cycling.The insights are meaningful for sustainable agricultural development and land management in arid areas.

Supporting of Potential Forage Production to the Herbivore-based Pastoral Farming Industry on the Loess Plateau

For the purpose of contributing to the establishment of optimized eco-productive paradigm, a new layout of land use of the Loess Plateau was carried out and the associated forage potential was estimated. Results indicated that the percentages of the area of grassland, woodland, basic farmland and orchard to the total productive land area were 44%, 22%, 20% and 14% respectively according to this new land use scenario. Based on the datasets of 197 counties in the Loess Plateau, the estimated forage potential would amount to 104 881 028 ton/a (hay), which can raise 104 881 028 productivity sheep unit/ a. According to the unchanged price in 1999, pastoral gross product value would amount to 52 440.51 million yuan RMB/a, which is as much as 5.3 times of that in 1999 and exceeds the agricultural gross product in 1999 by 14%. In addition, there are ca. 59% of counties whose mean pastoral product value per person would be more than 1 000 yuan RMB/a, while ca. 41% of counties whose mean pastoral product value per person would be less than 1 000 yuan RMB/a. On the other hand, the estimated agricultural gross product on the Loess Plateau would amount to 11 472 2.34 million yuan RMB/a and ca. 46% of the total would come from pastoral industry, 27% from orchid industry, 14% from forestry and 13% from farmland. From the perspective both ecologically and economically, this paper holds that the herbi-vore-based pastoral industry is a promising industry bolstering the ecological improvement and economical development on the Loess Plateau.

Vertical root distribution characters of Robinia pseudoacacia on the Loess Plateau in China

On the Loess Plateau, water is the main limiting factors for vegetation growth. Root distribution characters have special ecological meaning as it reflected the utilizations of trees to the environments. Even-aged stands ofRobinia pseudoacacia on slope lands facing south and north were selected as sampling plots for root distribution investigation. Investigatiing results showed that indicated that on all sites, root biomass decreased with depth, and the distribution depth of fine root was deeper than that of coarser root. The results of variance analysis indicated that there were great differences in root biomass among different diameter classes, and coarser root was the main sources of variance, and the root biomass, especially fine root (?<3mm) biomass on northern exposition sites was bigger than that on southern exposition sites. Analysis of the vertical root distribution parameters, root extinction coefficient, β indicated that the value of β on northern exposition was more than 0.982, while the value of β on southern exposition was less than 0.982, which indicated that the vertical root distribution depth ofRobinia pseudoacacia on southern exposition was deeper than that on southern exposition. And the distribution depth of fine roots (Φ<1mm) was deeper than that of thicker roots(Φ<3mm), which was in favor of the uptake of water and nutrients from deeper layers, helped the trees to adapt the arid environment, and promoted the growth of the upper parts of the tree. Keywords Root diameter classes - Variance analysis - Root extinction coefficient - Vertical distribution characters - Site conditions - Loess Plateau CLC number S792.27.01 Document code A Foundation Item: This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30371150 and 40371075).Biography: LI Peng (1974-) male, post: Ph. D. in Northwest Scientific & Technological University of Agriculture and Forestry, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China. Tel: 029-82312651.Responsible editor: Chai Ruihal

Plant Traits and Soil Chemical Variables During a Secondary Vegetation Succession in Abandoned Fields on the Loess Plateau

Species dynamics in terms of both plant biological traits, ecological strategies and species richness as well as soil chemical variables during a secondary succession in abandoned fields on the Loess Plateau along a temporal sere from 3 a to 149 a were studied. The results indicated that (I) Soil total C and N increased while soil pH, total K and Na decreased with years since abandonment. No noticeable trend was found in the case of soil P along the successional sere. On the other hand, total CaO of the surface layer (0 - 10 cm) decreased, but that of the two deeper layer, (20 - 30 cm, 40 - 50 cm) increased with years since abandonment. Soil C, N, K and P decreased, while Na, CaO and soil pH increased with increasing soil depth. (2) Species richness peaked at both mid-stage of the successional sere and the intermediate portion of soil chemical variables gradient. (3) An ideal dominant species in the early successional stage were annuals with stable seed pool, CR-life strategy, S-regeneration strategy, and strong competitive ability on relatively poor soil, while perennials capable of intensive lateral spread and colonal ability, requiring high nutrient supply, and having Clife strategy would be the dominant species in the subsequent stages. Plant traits, such as perennial-life history, C-, CR-, SC-, SR-, S- and R-life strategies, W-, S-, Bs- VBs- and V-regeneration strategies, were over- represented throughout the whole sere among the other species. (4) Some traits, such as C-, SC-life strategies, ability of clonality, perennial-life history, well-developed lateral spread ability, V- and VBs-regeneration strategies, seed animal. dispersal mode, flowering time of autumn, fruit types of legumen and nut, were more or less correlated with increased soil total C, N and K, while S-, SR-, R-, CR-life strategies, annual-, biannual-life history, non-clonal ability, S-regeneration strategy, poor lateral spread ability, and fruit types of utricle, capsule were associated with increased soil total Na, CaO and pH. The results suggested that steppes should be the dominant native vegetation coinciding with the large-scaled eco-climatic conditions on the Loess Plateau.

Extension Study on the Use of Slope Farmland in West Region

Based on the research of slope farmland in northern Shaanxi,the extension decision model was set up by the original theory of extenics. The optimal solution is obtained by expanding analysis,provide scientific basis for decision-making and increase the economic benefits to farmers.

Study on Influences of Different Land Use Types on Soil Qualities in Plateau Karst Depression

[Objective] The aim was to study influences of different land use ways on soil qualities in plateau karst depression.[Method] Different land use types were divided by topographic map of 1∶10 000 scales and soil properties of physics and chemistry were analyzed.[Result] The results showed that the variation trend of soil depth(A+B stratum)was slope plough(include returning farm to forest)land>natural forest land>planted forest land>shrub forest land,and relative indexes changing regularities of soil...

Selection of Indigenous Plants in Roads in Northwestern Loess Plateau Area

[Objective] The aim was to study on resource utilization of indigenous plants in roads in order to solve resource shortage of indigenous plant in bioengi- neering. [Method] Based on northwestern loess plateau area, we conducted research on selection of indigenous plants and survey on the species which could live in adverse condition, mainly by surveying, with frequent tests as a supplement, to make a comprehensive observation and evaluation on plant combinations which are to be extensively applied. [Result] The research indicated that in central dividing strips, four arbors, including Platycladus orientalis （Linn.）Franco, Sabina chinensis, Sabinachinen- sis（Linn.）Ant., and Ulmus purnila L., and nine frutices, including Lycium chinense, Tamarix austromongolica, Rosa xanthina Lindl., Forsythia suspense, Atriplex canescens, Amygdalus triloba, Hippophae rharnnoides Linn., Arnorpha fruticosa L., and Syzygium aromaticum could be planted. In addition, Gleditsia sinensis Lain, Robinia pseudoacacia L, Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Rhus typhina, Salix babylonica, Salixmatsudana and Fraxinus chinensis, tall and strong, are suitable to be planted as border trees, presenting a good vision. Frutices, limited by height, are usually with more branches, which will provide a good landscape if grown with tall plants. Prunus dacidiana and Ulmus pumila L., prone to be damaged by insects, should be planted with other species to stop the infestation in space. [Conclusion] The research laid foundation for selection of indigenous plants in roads, providing references for resource shortage of indigenous plant for bioengineedng.

Study on Evapotranspiration Regularity of 3 Forages in Eastern Qinghai Province

The transpiration rate and transpiration quantity＇of whole plants and foliages of Bromus innerrnis, Medicago sativa and Agropyron cristatum are measured by using improved quick and continuous weighting after being cut off method （QCWC）. The results show that transpiration rate of branches and foliages of Agropyron cristatum is highest in 3 forages, Medicago sativa is second and Bromus innermis is lowest. From July to September, the average transpiration quantity of whole plants and foliages of 3 forages is highest in August, September is second and July is lowest.

Soil moisture of different vegetation types on the Loess Plateau

Water stored in deep loess soil is one of the most important resources regulating vegetation growth in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau, but planted shrub and forest often disrupt the natural water cycle and in turn influence plant growth. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of main vegetation types on soil moisture and its inter-annual change. Soil moisture in 0-10 m depth of six vegetation types, i.e., crop, grass, planted shrub of caragana, planted forests of arborvitae, pine and the mixture of pine and arborvitae were measured in 2001,2005 and 2006. Soil moisture in about 0-3 m of cropland and about 0-2 m of other vegetation types varied inter-annually dependent on annual precipitation, but was stable inter-annually below these depths. In 0-2 m, soil moisture of cropland was significantly greater than those of all other vegetation types, and there were no si nificant differences among other vegetation types. In 2-10 m, there was no significant mois- ture difference between cropland and grassland, but the soil moistures under both of them were significantly higher than those of planted shrub and forests. The planted shrub and forests had depleted soil moisture below 2 m to or near permanent wilting point, and there were no significant moisture differences among forest types. The soil moisture of caragana shrub was significantly lower than those of forests, but the absolute difference was very small. The results of this study implicated that the planted shrub and forests had depleted deep soil moisture to the lowest limits to which they could extract and they lived mainly on present year precipitation for transpiration.

Effects of Accelerated Soil Erosion on Soil Nutrient Loss After Deforestation on the Loess Plateau

Soil erosion and nutrient losses on newly-deforested lands in the Ziwuling Region on the Loess Plateau of China were monitored to quantitatively evaluate the effects of accelerated soil erosion, caused by deforestation, on organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus losses. Eight natural runoff plots were established on the loessial hill slopes representing different erosion patterns of dominant erosion processes including sheet, rill and shallow gully (similar to ephemeral gully). Sediment samples were collected after each erosive rainfall event. Results showed that soil nutrients losses increased with an increase of erosion intensity. Linear relations between the losses of organic matter, total N, NH4-N, and available P and erosion intensity were found. Nutrient content per unit amount of eroded sediment decreased from the sheet to the shallow gully erosion zones, whereas total nutrient loss increased. Compared with topsoil, nutrients in eroded sediment were enriched, especially available P and NH4-N. The intensity of soil nutrient losses was also closely related to soil erosion intensity and pattern with the most severe soil erosion and nutrient loss occurring in the shallow gully channels on loessial hill slopes. These research findings will help to improve the understanding of the relation between accelerated erosion process after deforestation and soil quality degradation and to design better eco-environmental rehabilitation schemes for the Loess Plateau.

Impact of Gully on Soil Moisture of Shrubland in Wind-Water Erosion Crisscross Region of the Loess Plateau

The most serious erosion on the Loess Plateau of China exists in the wind-water erosion crisscross region where the annual precipitation is about 400 mm,the ecological environment is very fragile,and water is the key limiting factor for improving the environment. In this study,changes of soil moisture content for Caragana korshinskii Kom. shrubland in the gully bank of the Loess Plateau were studied using the methods of soil sampling and neutron probe. A typical gully(75 m long,28 m wide,and 10 m deep) was selected,and six neutron probe access tubes(6 m long) were installed at points 50,100,200,300,400,and 500 cm from the gully border for obtaining soil moisture data from July to October 2004 at approximately 10 d intervals. Soil samplings were simultaneously carried out for moisture determination at the six points. Results showed that the soil moisture of the shrubland in the gully bank significantly varied between 300 and 400 cm in the horizontal direction and up to 600 cm in vertical direction of the gully. Seasonal changes in soil moisture revealed a curve with a single peak that occurred at the end of August or early September. A linear regression equation was fit for soil water storage and the distance from the gully border,with coefficients depending on rainfall characteristics,sampling point,and time of measurement.

Effects of Grassland Degradation and Re-vegetation on Carbon and Nitrogen Storage in the Soils of the Headwater Area Nature Reserve on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,China

Both overgrazing and climate change contribute to grassland degradation in the alpine regions of China and negatively affect soil carbon and nitrogen pools. We quantified changes in soil organic carbon （SOC） and total nitrogen （TN） in black soil beach （BSB）. We measured SOC and TN in severely degraded and non-degraded grasslands to calculate differences in carbon and nitrogen storage, and field survey results were extrapolated to the entire headwaters area of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau （36.3xlos krn~） to determine SOC and TN losses from these grasslands. We also evaluated changes in SOC and TN in severely degraded grasslands that were artificially re-vegetated five, seven and nine years ago. Totally 92.43 Tg C and 7.08 Tg N were lost from the BSB in the headwater area, which was approximately 50% of the original C and N soil pools. Re-vegetation of the degraded grasslands in the headwater area would result in a gain of 32.71 Tg C in the soil after five years, a loss of 5.5a Tg C after seven years and an increase of 44.15 Tg C after nine years. The TN increased by 53.09% and 59.98% after five and nine years, respectively, while it decreased by 4.92% after seven years of re-vegetation. The results indicate that C and N stocks followed a ＂V＂ shaped pattern with re- vegetation time. Understanding plant-soil interactions during succession of artificially planting grassland ecosystems is essential for developing scientifically sound management strategies for the effectively re-vegetated BSB.

Nutrient Losses in Soils on Loess Plateau

The soil nutrient losses due to excessive soil loss on Loess Plateau were studied by means of runoff plotsand systematical determination of soil nutrients both in sediments and runoff.The results show that theamounts of nutrient losses depended on the amounts of erosion sediments. Along with sediment, 11-197 kgnitrogen/hectare and 9-174 kg phosphorus/hectare were lost, accounting for 92.46-99.47 percent of the totalamount of nitrogen loss and 99.85-99.99 percent of the total amount of phosphorns loss respectively. Thenutrient losses, very small in runoff, were mainly attributed to erosion of a few rainstorms during a year. Thenutrient level in sediment was mostly higher than that in the original soil. Planting grass evidently reducedthe losses of soil nutrients. The N level was lower in runoff than in rainfall so that the N loss from runoffconld be made up by rainfall. Fertilizer application to crops raised the nutrient level in runoff.

Spatial Distribution of Soil Erosion Sensitivity on the Tibet Plateau

The Tibet Plateau, occupying the main part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and having an average altitude of 4 500 m, has geomorphological features that are unique in the world, with soil erosion being one of the main ecological problems. Thus the main objectives of the present research were to set up an efficient and simple way of evaluating spatial distribution of soil erosion sensitivity in the Tibet Plateau as well as the responses of soil erosion to changes of natural environmental conditions, and to indicate key regions where soil erosion should be preferentially controlled. Based on the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), the study applied geographic information system (GIS) technology to develop a methodological reference framework, from which soil erosion sensitivity could be evaluated. The impact of precipitation, soil, topography and vegetation on soil erosion was divided into classes of extreme sensitivity, high sensitivity, medium sensitivity, low sensitivity and no sensitivity. With the aid of GIS, the resultant map from overlaying various factors showed that soil erosion sensitivity had great discrepancy in different parts of the region. In the southeastern part of the Tibet Plateau there were mainly three classes of sensitivity, namely, extreme, high and medium sensitivity. However, the other two classes, low and no sensitivity, were dominant in the northwestern part.