不同海拔高寒放牧草甸的生态系统呼吸与环境因子的关系

在全球变化的背景下,为了研究藏北高寒放牧草甸的生态系统呼吸和土壤呼吸特征,沿着3个海拔高度(4 300、4 500和4 700 m)观测了2010年7-9月白天的呼吸通量。同时,观测了同期的土壤温度、土壤水分含量、空气温度和相对湿度,在定性分析土壤水分含量和呼吸通量关系的基础上,将其分成低、中和高3个水平,在此基础上,分析生态系统呼吸、土壤呼吸与土壤温度、土壤水分含量、空气温度以及相对湿度的关系。结果表明,空气温度是决定生态系统呼吸和土壤呼吸变异的主导因子;生态系统呼吸、土壤呼吸以及裸地的土壤呼吸的Q10值分别为1.83～3.07、1.54～4.13和1.29～2.89;总体而言,生态系统呼吸和土壤呼吸Q10值随着海拔的升高和土壤水分含量的增加而增大。

高寒杂草类草甸牧压梯度下植被碳密度季节动态及分配特征

比较分析了祁连山北坡高寒杂草类草甸夏季牧场牧压梯度下植被生物量季节动态及净初级生产碳量、现存碳量和地上地下碳量的分配关系。结果表明,牧压梯度下:1.地上生物量有一定的季节变化,但随放牧强度的增加季节变化幅度降低;枯落物量从生长期开始逐渐下降,生长末期有所增加,其中重牧和中牧条件下随时间进程比轻牧和封育措施下的减少量明显;地下生物量有不甚明显的季节变化;半腐殖质层生物量从生长季初期到放牧中期变化平稳,7月下旬开始有所下降,说明良好的水热条件影响下半腐殖质层生物量归还土壤碳的能力增大。2.净初级生产碳量大小依次是轻牧、中牧、重牧和封育,表明适当放牧对植被净初级生产碳量的提高有利,从其地下分配来看,封育所占比例小于80%,轻牧、重牧、中牧在80%以上。9月底测定结果表明,植被现存总碳量随放牧强度的降低而增大,轻牧和封育条件下植被的储碳能力强,利于土壤固碳能力的提高。

Unpalatable Weed Stellera chamaejasme L. Provides Biotic Refuge for Neighboring Species and Conserves Plant Diversity in Overgrazing Alpine Meadows on the Tibetan Plateau in China

Steller chamaejasme L. （S. chamaejasme for short） is one of the most noxious unpalatable weeds in China, which has been frequently reported its negative interaction （i.e. competition and allelopathy） with other herbaceous species in grasslands. This study compared species diversity, biomass and sexual reproduction of herbaceous plants in meadows with S. chamaejasme and in open meadows without S. ehamaejasme in overgrazing meadows on the Tibetan Plateau in China to determine whether positive facilitation exist between S. chamaejasme and other herbaceous species under livestock＇s overgrazing. The results showed that there are more herbaceous species in meadows with S. chamaejasme than those in open meadows （35s and30s, respectively）. Diversity index and above-ground biomass were also significantly higher in meadows with S. charnaejasme. There were 39% （11/28） of all species with sexual reproduction found in meadows with S. charnaejasme, which was 7 times more than those in open meadows. Our study showed that S. charnaejasme could provide biotic refuge for neighboring plants and preserve plant diversity from livestock＇s overgrazing in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. It also suggested that inter-specific facilitation between S. charnaejasme and other herbaceous species may play a key role in overgrazing alpine meadows.

Additive effects of warming and grazing on fine-root decomposition and loss of nutrients in an alpine meadow

Fine-root decomposition is a critical process regulating ecosystem carbon cycles and affecting nutrient cycling and soil fertility.However,whether interaction between warming and grazing affects fine-root decomposition is still under-researched in natural grasslands.A two-factorial experiment with asymmetric warming(i.e.daytime vs.nighttime and growing season vs.nongrowing season)and moderate grazing(i.e.about average 50%forage utilization rate)was conducted to explore whether warming and grazing affect fine-root decomposition and loss of nutrients during a 2-year decomposition period in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau.Both warming and grazing facilitated carbon cycling through increase in fine-root decomposition,and influenced element cycling which varies among elements.The effects of warming and grazing on fine-root decomposition and loss of nutrients were additive.Both warming and grazing significantly increased cumulative percentage mass loss and total organic carbon loss of fine roots during the 2-year experiment.Only warming with grazing treatment reduced percentage nitrogen loss,whereas warming,regardless of grazing,decreased percentage phosphorus loss.Warming and grazing alone increased percentage loss of potassium,sodium,calcium and magnesium compared with control.There were no interactions between warming and grazing on fine-root decomposition and loss of nutrients.There was greater temperature sensitivity of decreased phosphorus loss than that of decreased nitrogen loss.Different temperature sensitivities of percentage loss of nutrients from fine-root decomposition would alter ratios of the available nutrients in soils,and may further affect ecosystem structure and functions in future warming.