Current vegetation patterns, biodiversity and adaptation of plants were studied during 1998-2001 in glacial landscape of Chaurabari situated above Kedarnath （30° 44＇ N- 79° 07＇ E; 3,000- 6,000 m） in Cent...Current vegetation patterns, biodiversity and adaptation of plants were studied during 1998-2001 in glacial landscape of Chaurabari situated above Kedarnath （30° 44＇ N- 79° 07＇ E; 3,000- 6,000 m） in Central Himalaya. Landscape was identified into different zones on account of the vegetation status, glacial features, geomorphology and altitudes. Cold environment with heavy snowfall, frost hailstorm and dense frost characterizes the study area Predominance of the soda rich feldspars indicates soda enrichment; orthoclase, microcline weathering and alternation would have contributed potash to the soil. The increasing severity of the environment as we ascend from timberline to snowline leads to progressive decline in the abundance and diversity of the plant species. The diversity of the higher plants decrease, while the diversity of microflora increase from alpine zone to snowline zone. Highly opulent and diverse flora with beautiful, delicate herbs occupy the alpine zone, but some specialized groups of the plants, particularly high energetic and cold resistant species reside in glacial environment. Asteraceae, Rananculaceae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae and Ericaceae are the pioneer angiospermic families, while Anaphalis triplinervis, A. royleana, Androsacce sarmentosa, Cotoneaster rotundifolius,Lonicera myrtillus, Cassiope fastigiata, Gaultheria trichophylla and Erigeron multiradiatus are the pioneer species, which have invaded in glacial environment. Through its nature, alpine glacial ecotone can be seen easily due to environmental and edaphic differences.展开更多
The primary factor controlling C 3 /C 4 relative abundance in terrestrial ecosystem since the Last Glacial has been widely debated. Now more and more researchers recognize that climate, rather than atmospheric CO 2 co...The primary factor controlling C 3 /C 4 relative abundance in terrestrial ecosystem since the Last Glacial has been widely debated. Now more and more researchers recognize that climate, rather than atmospheric CO 2 concentration, is the dominant factor. However, for a specific area, conflicting viewpoints regarding the more influential one between temperature and precipitation still exist. As temperature and precipitation in a specific area usually not only vary within limited ranges, but also covary with each other, it is difficult to get a clear understanding of the mechanism driving C 3 /C4 relative abundance. Therefore, systematic analysis on greater spatial scales may promote our understanding of the driving force. In this paper, records of C3/C4 relative abundance since the Last Glacial on a global scale have been reviewed, and we conclude that: except the Mediterranean climate zone, C3 plants predominated the high latitudes during both the Last Glacial and the Holocene; from the Last Glacial to the Holocene, C4 relative abundances increased in the middle latitudes, but decreased in the low latitudes. Combining with studies of modern process, we propose a simplified model to explain the variations of C3 /C4 relative abundance in global ecosystem since the Last Glacial. On the background of atmospheric CO2 concentration since the Last Glacial, temperature is the primary factor controlling C3/C4 relative abundance; when temperature is high enough, precipitation then exerts more influence. In detail, in low latitudes, temperature was high enough for the growth of C4 plants during both the Last Glacial and the Holocene; but increased precipitation in the Holocene inhibited the growth of C4 plants. In middle latitudes, rising temperature in the Holocene promoted the C4 expansion. In high latitudes, temperature was too low to favor the growth of C4 plants and the biomass was predominated by C3 plants since the Last Glacial. Our review would benefit interpretation of newly gained records of C3/C4 relative abundance from different areas and different periods, and has its significance in the understanding of the driving mechanisms of C3/C4 variations on longer timescales (e.g., since the late Miocene) with reliable records of temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration.展开更多
The Soya Coast in East Antarctica has several ice-free areas where many small （〈1 km2） and shallow （〈50 m depth） glacial lakes display various limnological features. Geological, biological, and ecological studie...The Soya Coast in East Antarctica has several ice-free areas where many small （〈1 km2） and shallow （〈50 m depth） glacial lakes display various limnological features. Geological, biological, and ecological studies conducted by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions since 1957 are reviewed herein. Most of the lakes along the coast are oligotrophic; however, water quality is highly variable depending on differences in lake morphology and history. Geophysical and paleolimnological studies suggest that most of the lakes appeared after the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM） and have since maintained a lacustrine condition. The ubiquitous occurrence of benthic microbial assemblages with low phytoplankton biomasses is a common feature of other Antarctic lakes. However, diverse benthic assemblages such as moss pillars and large pinnacle microbial structures are found in the lake basins. Frequent and continuous limnological studies have revealed three typical water circulation patterns, underwater light climate features （too much light, which includes UV radiation during the ice free season）, and the structure of benthic assemblages based on their photosynthetic physiology. The phenomenon of mass floatation of benthic assemblages was observed in a lake during the ice-covered season; this was explained by seasonal environmental conditions. Thus, a hypothesis was formulated based on ecological matter cycling, eutrophication, and lake succession processes.展开更多
文摘Current vegetation patterns, biodiversity and adaptation of plants were studied during 1998-2001 in glacial landscape of Chaurabari situated above Kedarnath （30° 44＇ N- 79° 07＇ E; 3,000- 6,000 m） in Central Himalaya. Landscape was identified into different zones on account of the vegetation status, glacial features, geomorphology and altitudes. Cold environment with heavy snowfall, frost hailstorm and dense frost characterizes the study area Predominance of the soda rich feldspars indicates soda enrichment; orthoclase, microcline weathering and alternation would have contributed potash to the soil. The increasing severity of the environment as we ascend from timberline to snowline leads to progressive decline in the abundance and diversity of the plant species. The diversity of the higher plants decrease, while the diversity of microflora increase from alpine zone to snowline zone. Highly opulent and diverse flora with beautiful, delicate herbs occupy the alpine zone, but some specialized groups of the plants, particularly high energetic and cold resistant species reside in glacial environment. Asteraceae, Rananculaceae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae and Ericaceae are the pioneer angiospermic families, while Anaphalis triplinervis, A. royleana, Androsacce sarmentosa, Cotoneaster rotundifolius,Lonicera myrtillus, Cassiope fastigiata, Gaultheria trichophylla and Erigeron multiradiatus are the pioneer species, which have invaded in glacial environment. Through its nature, alpine glacial ecotone can be seen easily due to environmental and edaphic differences.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB950202)the Key Project of the Chinese Ministry of Education(109151)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40901055and 41171091)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Lanzhou University (lzujbky-2012-k49)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-10-0468)
文摘The primary factor controlling C 3 /C 4 relative abundance in terrestrial ecosystem since the Last Glacial has been widely debated. Now more and more researchers recognize that climate, rather than atmospheric CO 2 concentration, is the dominant factor. However, for a specific area, conflicting viewpoints regarding the more influential one between temperature and precipitation still exist. As temperature and precipitation in a specific area usually not only vary within limited ranges, but also covary with each other, it is difficult to get a clear understanding of the mechanism driving C 3 /C4 relative abundance. Therefore, systematic analysis on greater spatial scales may promote our understanding of the driving force. In this paper, records of C3/C4 relative abundance since the Last Glacial on a global scale have been reviewed, and we conclude that: except the Mediterranean climate zone, C3 plants predominated the high latitudes during both the Last Glacial and the Holocene; from the Last Glacial to the Holocene, C4 relative abundances increased in the middle latitudes, but decreased in the low latitudes. Combining with studies of modern process, we propose a simplified model to explain the variations of C3 /C4 relative abundance in global ecosystem since the Last Glacial. On the background of atmospheric CO2 concentration since the Last Glacial, temperature is the primary factor controlling C3/C4 relative abundance; when temperature is high enough, precipitation then exerts more influence. In detail, in low latitudes, temperature was high enough for the growth of C4 plants during both the Last Glacial and the Holocene; but increased precipitation in the Holocene inhibited the growth of C4 plants. In middle latitudes, rising temperature in the Holocene promoted the C4 expansion. In high latitudes, temperature was too low to favor the growth of C4 plants and the biomass was predominated by C3 plants since the Last Glacial. Our review would benefit interpretation of newly gained records of C3/C4 relative abundance from different areas and different periods, and has its significance in the understanding of the driving mechanisms of C3/C4 variations on longer timescales (e.g., since the late Miocene) with reliable records of temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration.
基金partly supported by a grant from the Center for the Promotion of Integrated Sciences,the Graduate University for Advanced Studies(SOKENDAI),Japan and an NIPR publication subsidy
文摘The Soya Coast in East Antarctica has several ice-free areas where many small （〈1 km2） and shallow （〈50 m depth） glacial lakes display various limnological features. Geological, biological, and ecological studies conducted by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions since 1957 are reviewed herein. Most of the lakes along the coast are oligotrophic; however, water quality is highly variable depending on differences in lake morphology and history. Geophysical and paleolimnological studies suggest that most of the lakes appeared after the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM） and have since maintained a lacustrine condition. The ubiquitous occurrence of benthic microbial assemblages with low phytoplankton biomasses is a common feature of other Antarctic lakes. However, diverse benthic assemblages such as moss pillars and large pinnacle microbial structures are found in the lake basins. Frequent and continuous limnological studies have revealed three typical water circulation patterns, underwater light climate features （too much light, which includes UV radiation during the ice free season）, and the structure of benthic assemblages based on their photosynthetic physiology. The phenomenon of mass floatation of benthic assemblages was observed in a lake during the ice-covered season; this was explained by seasonal environmental conditions. Thus, a hypothesis was formulated based on ecological matter cycling, eutrophication, and lake succession processes.
