The Impact of Ecosystem Functional Type Changes on the La Plata Basin Climate

In this paper, the effects of land cover changes on the climate of the La Plata Basin in southern South America are investigated using the Weather and Research Forecasting （WRF） Model configured on a 30/10- km two-way interactive nested grid. To assess the regional climate changes resulting from land surface changes, the standard land cover types are replaced by time-varying Ecosystem Functional Types （EFTs）, which is a newly devised land-cover classification that characterizes the spatial and interannual variability of surface vegetation dynamics. These variations indicate that natural and anthropogenic activities have caused changes in the surface physical parameters of the basin, such as albedo and roughness length, that contributed to regional climate changes. EFTs are obtained from functional attributes of vegetation computed from properties of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） to represent patches of the land surface with homogeneous energy and gas exchanges with the atmosphere. Four simulations are conducted, each experimental period ranging from September to November in two contrasting years, 1988 and 1998. The influence of an identical EFT change on the surface heat fluxes, 2-m temperature and humidity, 10-m winds, convective instabilities and large-scale moisture fluxes and precipitation are explored for 1988 （a dry year） and 1998 （a wet year）. Results show that the surface and atmospheric climate has a larger response to the same EFT changes in a dry year for 2-m temperature and 10-m wind; the response is larger in a wet year for 2-m water vapor mixing ratio, convective available potential energy, vertically integrated moisture fluxes and surface precipitation. For EFTs with high productivity and a weak seasonal cycle, the near- surface temperature during the spring of 1988 and 1998 increased by as much as I^C in the central and western portions of La Plata Basin. Additionally, for higher productivity EFTs, precipitation differences were generally positive in both dry and wet years, although the patterns are not uniform and exhibit certain patchiness with drier conditions.

Effect of Implementing Ecosystem Functional Type Data in a Mesoscale Climate Model

In this paper, we introduce a new concept of land-surface state representation for southern South America, which is based on ＂functional＂ attributes of vegetation, and implement a new land-cover （Ecosystem Functional Type, hereafter EFT） dataset in the Weather and Research Forecasting （WRF） model. We found that the EFT data enabled us to deal with functional attributes of vegetation and time-variant features more easily than the default land-cover data in the WRF. In order to explore the usefulness of the EFT data in simulations of surface and atmospheric variables, numerical simulations of the WRF model, using both the US Geological Survey （USGS） and the EFT data, were conducted over the La Plata Basin in South America for the austral spring of 1998 and compared with observations. Results showed that the model simulations were sensitive to the lower boundary conditions and that the use of the EFT data improved the climate simulation of 2-m temperature and precipitation, implying the need for this type of information to be included in numerical climate models.

Rangeland Degradation Impacts on Vegetation Cover, Soil Properties and Ecosystem Functioning in an Arid and Semi-Arid Climate, South Africa

The negative effect of soil erosion and soil compaction is well documented for the purpose of optimum rangeland functioning, while the impact of rangeland degradation on effective soil depth is seldom quantified. The aim of this study was to quantify the response of vegetation cover and soil properties, particularly effective soil depth and soil texture to rangeland degradation. Forty-one farms were sampled in the arid and semi-arid climate of South Africa. Within these farms, data was collected over a vegetation degradation gradient. Results showed a significant decline in relative basal cover (94% ± 15% to 39% ± 17%) and soil depth (90% ± 14% to 73% ± 24%) as rangeland degraded. Soil texture changes over the degradation gradients vary for different homogeneous vegetation types. Indications regarding the loss of a functioning rangeland ecosystem were also demonstrated, using objective long-term relations between rangeland conditions and grazing capacity. The study highlights the importance of sustainable rangeland management practices to reduce the loss in effective soil depth and to ensure the sustainable utilization of the rangeland ecosystem. These results can probably extrapolate to other arid and semi-arid rangelands worldwide.

Functional Diversity: An Important Measure of Ecosystem Functioning

Functional diversity is a component of biodiversity that generally covers the range of functional traits of microorganisms prevailing in an ecosystem. Functional diversity is of high ecological importance because it is capable of influencing several aspects of ecosystem functioning like ecosystem dynamics, stability, nutrient availability, etc. Functional diversity of a community can be measured by functional richness and evenness. Functional richness refers to the number of species inhabiting a particular niche and functional evenness reveals how evenly the species are being distributed. Increase or decrease in functional richness and evenness simultaneously increases and decreases the functional diversity respectively. Decrease in functional richness and evenness decreases the ecosystem productivity and stability which ultimately decreases functional diversity of the same ecosystem. The effects of functional diversity on the productivity of an ecosystem can be quantitatively explained by the sampling effect model and the niche differentiation model. There are other proposed mechanisms like Niche complementarity and species redundancy relating functional diversity with ecosystem functioning. Rivets and idiosyncratic models relate functional diversity and species richness with ecosystem functioning. By considering the above proposed models on ecosystem functioning, it can be considered that functional diversity is a principal component of ecosystem functioning. So it can be assumed that, knowledge about a particular ecosystem reveals its richness and evenness which enable an individual knowing about the diversity of functional traits prevailing in the ecosystem. Thus, it opens up a new way in understanding and carrying out ecology related studies more efficiently and precisely in ecosystem.

Contribution of biodiversity to ecosystem functioning:a non-equilibrium thermodynamic perspective

Ecosystem stays far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Through the interactions among biotic and abiotic components, and encompassing physical environments, ecosystem forms a dissipative struc- ture that allows it to dissipate energy continuously and thereby remains functional over time. Biotic regulation of energy and material fluxes in and out of the ecosystem allows it to maintain a homeostatic state which corresponds to a self-organized state emerged in a non-equilibrium thermodynamic system. While the associated self-organizational processes approach to homeostatic state, entropy （a measure of irre- versibility） degrades and dissipation of energy increases. We propose here that at a homeostatic state of ecosystem, biodiversity which includes both phenotypic and functional diversity, attains optimal values. As long as biodiversity remains within its optimal range, the corresponding homeostatic state is maintained. However, while embedded environmental conditions fluctuate along the gradient of accelerating changes, phenotypic diversity and functional diversity contribute inversely to the associated self-organizing proc- esses. Furthermore, an increase or decrease in biodiversity outside of its optimal range makes the eco- system vulnerable to transition into a different state.

Function of Rural Settlement Complex Ecosystem in Mountain Area:A Case Study of Raosi Village of Zuogong County,Tibet

Using energy analysis,the quantifying evaluation and study method on production, living and ecology functions and their sustainability of rural settlement ecosystem in mountain area is established with these energy index such as export of labor and products, export of water resource, internal energy reserve, energy consumption for human living, net energy of ecosystem function and net internal reserve. Taking rural settlement Raosi Village in Hengduan Mountains as a case study, and on the basis of the synthetic research into the ecological process of the complex ecosystem, the study shows that energy costs of production, human living and ecology functions are separately taking 1.36%, 13.59% and 85. 05% of the gross ecosystem functions, and the exertions of production and human living functions are close to a high-point state on the present using level of energy in the settlement. The study also shows that the most important function of a rural settlement in mountain area is its ecological rather productive function.

Preliminary Evaluation on Urban Forest Ecosystem Services Function in Meizhou City

In order to better explore the function of urban forest in human habitation and settlement environment,the ecosystem functions were evaluated in terms of air purification,water conservation,soil conservation,maintenance of biodiversity in Meizhou by the methods of market price,shadow prices approach and opportunity cost,and the problems of the value assessment at home and abroad in urban forest ecosystem services function were simply discussed.

Advances in research of function and valuation of ecosystem services

It is widely accepted that there is an economic progress beyond the Gross Domestic Product （GDP）, while global GDP has increased more than three-fold since 1950, whereas ecosystems have been largely occupied and depleted. Since the 1990s, emphasis has focused on function and valuation of ecosystem services, which is rarely treated as a market issue. This paper reviews recent developments on measures to evaluate and assess ecosystem services, while elucidating the function of ecosystem services. On the one hand, functions of ecosystem services are subdivided into several items such as gas reg- ulation, water regulation, soil and nutrient recycling. Also, there exist intellectually guided functions of ecosystem services, such as culture and recreation. On the other hand, ecosystems can be viewed as a supplier in the trade between human beings and natural resources such that all resources can be labeled and quantified.

Critical role of multidimensional biodiversity in contributing to ecosystem sustainability under global change

The 21st century has seen an acceleration of global change,including climate change,elevated carbon dioxide,nitrogen deposition,and land-use intensification,which poses a significant threat to ecosystem functioning.Nev-ertheless,studies on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning(BEF)have consistently demonstrated that biodiversity enhances ecosystem functioning and its stability,even in variable environmental conditions.These findings potentially indicate the critical role of biodiversity in promoting sustainable provi-sioning of ecosystem functioning under global change.Our paper provides a comprehensive review of current BEF research and the response of BEF to multiple global change factors.We demonstrate that(1)assessing the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning requires consideration of multiple dimensions of diversity,such as diversity across multiple trophic levels(plants,animals,and microbes),multiple facets(taxonomy,functional traits,and phylogeny),and multiple spatial scales(local,regional,and landscape scales).(2)The interaction of multiple global change factors may lead to a greater reduction in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning than a single global change factor.(3)Multidimensional biodiversity regulates the response of ecosystem functioning to global change factors,indicating that high levels of multidimensional biodiversity can mitigate the negative impacts of global change on ecosystem functioning.Overall,we emphasize that recognizing the importance of multidimensional biodiversity is critical for sustaining ecosystem functioning.Therefore,prioritizing conserva-tion efforts to maintain and enhance all dimensions of biodiversity is essential to address the challenges of future global change.

Changes in biodiversity and ecosystem function during the restoration of a tropical forest in south china

Tropical forests continue to vanish rapidly,but few long-term studies have ever examined if and how the lost forests can be restored.Based on a 45-year restoration study in south China,we found that a tropical rain forest,once completely destroyed,could not recover naturally without deliberate restoration efforts.We identified two kinds of thresholds that must be overcome with human ameliorative measures before the ecosystem was able to recover.The first threshold was imposed primarily by extreme physical conditions such as exceedingly high surface temperature and impoverished soil,while the second was characterized by a critical level of biodiversity and a landscape context that accommodates dispersal and colonization processes.Our three treatment catchments(un-restored barren land,single-species plantation,and mixed-forest stand)exhibited dramatically different changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning over 4 decades.The mixed forest,having the highest level of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning,possesses several major properties of tropical rain forest.These findings may have important implications for the restoration of many severely degraded or lost tropical forest ecosystems.

Value Assessment of Ecosystem Service Function of Ecological Public Welfare Forests in Wenchang City

Based on the measurement parameters and index in the Specifications for Assessment of Forest Ecosystem Services in China(LY/T 1721-2008),the value of ecological service functions of ecological public welfare forest in Wenchang City was evaluated and analyzed.The results show that the total value of ecosystem service function of ecological public welfare forests in Wenchang City is about 4.020 billion yuan,of which storage capacity,water purification,soil fixation,fertilizer(N,P and K fertilizer) conservation,carbon sequestration,oxygen release,forest nutrient accumulation,providing anion,absorbing SO_2,absorbing fluoride,absorbing NxO,absorbing soil heavy metals,dust retention,noise reduction,sterilization,forest protection,forest biodiversity protection,and forest recreation(ecological tourism) are about 1.510 billion,582.256 million,3.769 million,268.220 million,116.360 million,2.747 million,22.682 million,42.817 million,1.722 million,74,600,131,900,187.918 million,77.409 million,28.721 million,43.090 million,180.696 million,571.036 million,and 108.677 million yuan

Quantitative Evaluation on Wetland Ecosystem Service Function in Chao Lake

[Objective] The aim was to better reveal the type of ecosystem service function of wetlands in Chao Lake and provide references for protection and man- agement, restoration and rebuilding of local wetland ecosystem. [Method] The val- ues of ecosystem function was estimated by market value method, opportunity cost approach, replacement cost method, shadow engineering approach, travel cost method, hedonic pricing method and contingent value method. [Result] With wetland ecosystem service function value totals 4.968 billion yuan, the value of eco-environ- ment regulation and maintenance was the highest, followed by the value of cultural and social function. The value of material production was the least. The values of sub-functions can be concluded by comparison of service function va}ue and pro- portions, as follows： flood mitigation 〉water purification 〉water conservation 〉 tourism＆leisure〉material production〉scientific research and education〉water supply〉 biodiversity maintenance〉regulation on atmosphere constituents. [Conclusion] The re- search performed quantitative evaluations on ecosystem service function values of wetlands in Chao Lake and is of significance for specific development and protec- tion of local wetlands.

Change of Forest Ecosystem Service Function and Its Value in Kanas Nature Reserve

In order to clarify the service function and value of forest ecosystem in Kanas Nature Reserve, the ecological service function and its value of forest ecosystem in Kanas Nature Reserve in 2009 and 2014 were evaluated by using the method of Specifications for Assessment of Forest Ecosystem Services in China(LY/T 1721-2008). The results showed that in 2014, the total value of forest ecosystem service function in Kanas Nature Reserve increased by 7.34% compared with that in 2009, and the value of water conservation and biodiversity accounted for the largest proportion. The increasing rate of functional value of shrub forest land was obviously higher than that of coniferous forest land and broad-leaf forest land. The service function and value of different forest types were obviously different.

Functions, Problems and Countermeasures of China’s Rural Ecosystems

At present,the whole country is fully implementing rural revitalization strategy and actively promoting rural ecosystems development in China.From the perspective of ecology and agroecology,the main functions of rural ecosystem in China,the current outstanding problems,and the corresponding countermeasures and measures are discussed in the paper,in order to provide references for promoting the implementation of the strategy of rural revitalization and the sustainable development of rural ecosystem.China’s rural ecosystem has multi-functions such as carrying population,improving environment,providing products,increasing income,expanding employment and tourism,inheriting culture,popularizing science and technology,educating people,training talents,and providing places for the aged urban residents.Currently,there are still many problems and challenges in rural ecosystem in China,such as ecological destruction,waste of resources,environmental pollution,natural disasters,economic poverty,backward science and education,laggard culture and medical care,lack of public services,bad social morality,loss of villagers and disappearance of villages.In order to promote implementation of rural revitalization strategy and to promote sustainable development of rural ecosystems in China,the following measures should be taken based on the principles of integrating “tri-benefits”(economic,ecological and social benefits),gradual progress,comprehensive governance,adaptation to local conditions and long-term efforts and success.Eventually,the following measures are suggested:① enhancing awareness;② planning well;③ improving environment;④ optimizing ecological structure;⑤ improving ecological functions;⑥ improving ecological conditions;⑦ strengthening public services;⑧ improving laws and regulations;⑨ improving great investment;⑩ accelerating personnel training.

A Preliminary Exploration of the Functional Value Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Aral City

Using the principles and methods of eco-economics as the research object,Aral City comprehensively expounds the ecological service functions such as ecosystem regulation of climate,carbon sequestration,soil conservation,water conservation and purification environment,and evaluates its economic value.The total value of the estimated 2021 is 1303.65 million yuan.At the same time,the importance of ecological service functions of urban ecosystems,from large to small,is to sequester carbon and release oxygen,purify the environment,maintain soil,conserd water sources,regulate the climate.The ecosystem service function which needs to be paid attention to in the concept of ecological construction and restoration of the next stage of ecological construction in Aral City.

青藏高原草地生态系统演化过程、可持续发展瓶颈及应对分析

青藏高原面积巨大,自然条件恶劣,生态环境脆弱,具有生态、生产和生活的三生服务功能。自20世纪80年代以来,在气候变化、人口激增、市场冲击和经营管理模式改变等多种因素影响下,青藏高原草地生产服务功能逐渐被弱化,“人-地”矛盾凸显,如何实现青藏高原草地生态系统的可持续发展成为“关系人民福祉、关乎民族未来的大计”。基于此,本文梳理了青藏高原生态系统演化历史、植被演化过程及不同历史时期人类活动及区域经济-资源发展模式特征,发现:1)在大的时空间尺度下,青藏高原植被演替的主控因子为气候变化和剧烈的地质变迁,在小的时空尺度下,导致相同地理和气候单元植被特征分异的原因是放牧强度的分异,而草地过度放牧的原因同家庭牧场的管理、草地生态价值的可评估性、人口与生产力发展适配度等关系密切。2)规模化放牧在青藏高原区域具有数千年历史,并形成了人-草-畜协同演化的互利共生关系,青藏高原草地生态系统可持续发展需要在汲取当地传统知识和文化精华的基础之上,扩大草地生产的层次性,引入或研发以生产和生态效益共赢为目的的科学技术,完善和延伸草地生产产业链,完善高原生态系统生态价值评估体系,调动牧场管理者草地健康保护的主观能动性,完成草地健康监管奖惩制度,以生产力、管理和文化为调节手段提高青藏高原区域农牧业现代化和商品化程度,实现青藏高原草地生态系统资源可持续利用发展及区域生态文明建设。

社会资本如何影响茶农绿色生产技术采纳行为?

基于武夷山388份茶农微观调查数据,以生态系统服务功能认知为中介变量、茶农家庭收入水平为调节变量,采用结构方程模型探究社会资本对茶农绿色生产技术采纳行为的作用机制。结果表明:社会资本对茶农绿色生产技术采纳行为具有正向影响,其中社会参与对茶农绿色生产技术采纳行为的影响最大,社会信任次之,社会网络最小;社会资本对生态系统服务功能认知具有直接促进作用,社会资本也可以通过生态系统服务功能认知对茶农绿色生产技术采纳行为起到间接促进作用,其中社会信任所在路径的间接效应最大;高家庭收入水平茶农的生态系统服务功能认知对茶农绿色生产技术采纳行为影响更为显著。据此,提出利用社区资源培育和维护茶农社会资本,提高茶农生态系统服务功能认知,对低家庭收入水平茶农提供相应政策保障等建议。

黄土丘陵区典型植被生态系统功能的权衡关系

为探究黄土高原植被恢复形成各群落生态系统功能权衡关系,本研究以植被恢复形成的灌木、自然草地、撂荒草地及乔木群落为对象,采用均方根偏差法(Root mean square deviation,RMSD)研究了生物量生产、土壤含水量、土壤养分含量、物种多样性4种生态系统功能差异及其权衡关系。结果表明:各植被类型间生态系统功能差异显著;各植被类型最高权衡均出现在生物量与其他生态系统功能间,RMSD在0.27~0.53间变化;乔木群落生态系统功能严重失衡,需要降低生物量促进各功能协调发展;灌木群落和自然草地群落生态系统功能中度失衡,是较为适合该区域的植被恢复的类型,两种群落分别需要改善土壤养分含量和土壤含水量;撂荒草地失衡程度最轻但生态系统功能低下,需要提升物种多样性及生物量。研究结果为黄土高原植被恢复调控与可持续发展提供依据。

Tree structure and diversity shape the biomass of primary temperate mountain forests

Primary forests are spatially diverse terrestrial ecosystems with unique characteristics,being naturally regenerative and heterogeneous,which supports the stability of their carbon storage through the accumulation of live and dead biomass.Yet,little is known about the interactions between biomass stocks,tree genus diversity and structure across a temperate montane primary forest.Here,we investigated the relationship between tree structure(variability in basal area and tree size),genus-level diversity(abundance,tree diversity)and biomass stocks in temperate primary mountain forests across Central and Eastern Europe.We used inventory data from726 permanent sample plots from mixed beech and spruce across the Carpathian Mountains.We used nonlinear regression to analyse the spatial variability in forest biomass,structure,and genus-level diversity and how they interact with plot-level tree age,disturbances,temperature and altitude.We found that the combined effects of genus and structural indices were important for addressing the variability in biomass across different spatial scales.Local processes in disturbance regimes and uneven tree age support forest hete rogeneity and the accumulation of live and dead biomass through the natural regeneration,growth and decay of the forest ecosystem.Structural complexities in basal area index,supporte d by genus-level abundance,positively influence total biomass stocks,which was modulated by tree age and disturbances.Spruce forests showed higher tree density and basal area than mixed beech forests,though mixed beech still contributes significantly to biomass across landscapes.Forest heterogeneity was strongly influenced by complexities in forest composition(tree genus diversity,structure).We addressed the importance of primary forests as stable carbon stores,achieved through structure and diversity.Safeguarding such ecosystems is critical for ensuring the stability of the primary forest,carbon store and biodiversity into the future.

北京八达岭林场人工林生态服务功能评估

人工林生态服务功能评估是应用生态学领域研究的热点,也是数字生态和林业高质量发展的需求.本文以北京市八达岭林场人工林生态系统(混交林、针叶林、阔叶林)和天然灌木林为研究对象,以北京市森林资源规划设计调查资料(2004、2009、2014年)和八达岭林场碳通量实时监测为基础数据源,通过野外调查及典型样方观测,开展人工林生态服务功能评价,旨在探究森林生态系统结构优化和功能提升的森林经营建议.结果表明:1)2004−2014年八达岭林场针叶林和灌木林面积增长率分别为40.48%和3.32%,而阔叶林和混交林分别减少46.33%和3.57%,林场仍以混交林(703 hm^(2))和灌木林(1182 hm^(2))为主.2)2004−2014年阔叶林中椴树逐渐成为主要树种,2014年涵养水源量较2009年提高了1.55倍.油松作为混交林的优势树种,其涵养水源实物量2014年较2004年提高了67%.灌木林在2014年出现了较大幅度增加,涵养水源实物量较2004年提高了1倍左右,其价值量也相应增加.固碳、释氧、提供负氧离子、滞尘和吸收污染物等调节服务功能及其价值均表现为混交林最高,针叶林次之,阔叶林最低(P>0.05);各林分服务功能价值量与功能实物量变化趋势相同,灌木林固土和保肥功能优于其余3种林分,混交林和针叶林营养物质累积量和生物多样性优于阔叶林.3)2004−2014年保育土壤(92.91%)、生物多样性保护(4.33%)及涵养水源功能(2.33%)对人工林生态服务功能的贡献率大于固碳释氧(0.37%)、森林防护(0.04%)和净化大气环境(0.02%)功能,其中混交林和针叶林对人工林生态服务功能贡献大于阔叶林和灌木林.由此可见,林分类型和林分面积是影响人工林生态服务功能强弱的主要决定因素.八达岭人工林经营应持续保持保育土壤功能,在保证生物多样性的情况下,应注重固碳增汇功能,建议将现有林分多调整为混交林和灌木林,营造“异龄、复层”的理想人工林生态系统,逐渐提高北京八达岭人工林生态服务功能.