The spatial pattern and abundance of herbaceous vegetation in semi-arid savannas are dictated by a complex and dynamic interaction between trees and grasses. Scattered trees alter the composition and spatial distribut...The spatial pattern and abundance of herbaceous vegetation in semi-arid savannas are dictated by a complex and dynamic interaction between trees and grasses. Scattered trees alter the composition and spatial distribution of herbaceous vegetation under their canopies. Therefore, we studied the effect of Vachellia tortilis on herbaceous vegetation composition, biomass and basal area, and soil nutrients on sites with varying grazing intensities in the central rift valley of Ethiopia. Data were collected on species composition, cover and biomass of herbs and grasses, and soil moisture and nutrient contents under light,medium, and heavy grazing pressures, both under the inside and outside of V. tortilis canopies. Species richness was similar in both locations but decreased with increased grazing. Only the overall biomass and herb cover were significantly greater under the canopy than outside, and overall biomass showed significant unchanging decline with increased grazing. However, vegetation cover was significantly greater on moderately grazed sites compared to low and heavily grazed sites. All soil variables were significantly higher under V. tortilis canopies than outside.Our findings suggest that V. tortilis has more effect on composition and diversity of herbaceous vegetation than on species richness, and that V. tortilis promotes the herbaceous layer biomass by reducing soil moisture loss and increasing soil fertility under the inside than outside the canopies. Therefore, we suggest that management practices should be directed on reducing pressure on V. tortilis by regulating grazing. Low to moderate grazing levels(i.e., a stocking rate less than 39.6 TLU ha-1yr-1) seems to be tolerable to ensure sustainable conservation of the species in the study area in particular and in semi-arid savannas in general.展开更多
以北京市为研究区域,联合使用光学遥感数据和雷达数据,对植被覆盖区地表土壤水分进行反演研究。在利用同期光学数据提取出归一化水分指数(normalized differential water index,NDWI)之后,利用water-cloud模型去除植被层在土壤水分后向...以北京市为研究区域,联合使用光学遥感数据和雷达数据,对植被覆盖区地表土壤水分进行反演研究。在利用同期光学数据提取出归一化水分指数(normalized differential water index,NDWI)之后,利用water-cloud模型去除植被层在土壤水分后向散射中的贡献,然后考虑到地表粗糙度,在构建后向散射数据库的基础上分别利用HH和HV极化方式的后向散射系数构建土壤水分反演模型,并对反演结果进行对比研究。结果表明,采用HH极化方式反演土壤水分的均方根误差为0.044,相对误差为15.5%;采用HV极化方式反演土壤水分的均方根误差为0.057,相对误差为20.3%;相比而言,HH极化的反演效果更好。展开更多
基金Wageningen University for scholarship opportunity of Temesgen Yadeta(Funding no:WUSRS-1205-10)
文摘The spatial pattern and abundance of herbaceous vegetation in semi-arid savannas are dictated by a complex and dynamic interaction between trees and grasses. Scattered trees alter the composition and spatial distribution of herbaceous vegetation under their canopies. Therefore, we studied the effect of Vachellia tortilis on herbaceous vegetation composition, biomass and basal area, and soil nutrients on sites with varying grazing intensities in the central rift valley of Ethiopia. Data were collected on species composition, cover and biomass of herbs and grasses, and soil moisture and nutrient contents under light,medium, and heavy grazing pressures, both under the inside and outside of V. tortilis canopies. Species richness was similar in both locations but decreased with increased grazing. Only the overall biomass and herb cover were significantly greater under the canopy than outside, and overall biomass showed significant unchanging decline with increased grazing. However, vegetation cover was significantly greater on moderately grazed sites compared to low and heavily grazed sites. All soil variables were significantly higher under V. tortilis canopies than outside.Our findings suggest that V. tortilis has more effect on composition and diversity of herbaceous vegetation than on species richness, and that V. tortilis promotes the herbaceous layer biomass by reducing soil moisture loss and increasing soil fertility under the inside than outside the canopies. Therefore, we suggest that management practices should be directed on reducing pressure on V. tortilis by regulating grazing. Low to moderate grazing levels(i.e., a stocking rate less than 39.6 TLU ha-1yr-1) seems to be tolerable to ensure sustainable conservation of the species in the study area in particular and in semi-arid savannas in general.
文摘以北京市为研究区域,联合使用光学遥感数据和雷达数据,对植被覆盖区地表土壤水分进行反演研究。在利用同期光学数据提取出归一化水分指数(normalized differential water index,NDWI)之后,利用water-cloud模型去除植被层在土壤水分后向散射中的贡献,然后考虑到地表粗糙度,在构建后向散射数据库的基础上分别利用HH和HV极化方式的后向散射系数构建土壤水分反演模型,并对反演结果进行对比研究。结果表明,采用HH极化方式反演土壤水分的均方根误差为0.044,相对误差为15.5%;采用HV极化方式反演土壤水分的均方根误差为0.057,相对误差为20.3%;相比而言,HH极化的反演效果更好。
