Relationships between Artemisia ordosica communities and environmental factors following sand-dune stabilization in the Mu Us desert,northwest China

Artemisia ordosica is an excellent sand-fixing shrub for sand stabilization in northwestern China. Sand dune stabilization, a critically important process, leads changes in abiotic factors, such as soil structure and nutrient contents. However, the effects of factors on an A.ordosica community following sand stabilization remain unclear. In this study, we used canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) to examine the relationships between A.ordosica communities and environmental factors at three habitats: semi-fixed dune(SF), fixed dune with low-coverage biological soil crust(F), and fixed dune with highcoverage biological soil crust(FC) in Mu Us desert. The mean height and coverage of plants increased with sand stabilization, while species diversity and richness increased initially and then reduced significantly. Correlation analysis and CCA revealed that slope, soil organic carbon, and nutrient contents, proportion of fine soil particles, soil moisture, and thickness of biological soil crust were allhighly correlated with vegetation characteristics. These environmental factors could explain 40.42 % of the vegetation–environment relationships at the three habitats. The distribution of plant species was positively related to soil moisture in the SF dune. Soil moisture, soil nutrient, and fine-particle contents mainly affected plants distribution in the F dune. In the FC dune, distribution of plant species was positively and negatively correlated with the thickness of biological soil crust and soil moisture at a depth0–20 cm, respectively. The dominance value of typical steppe species increased significantly following sand-dune stabilization and relations between species and samples in CCA ordination bi-plots showed that perennial grasses could invade the A. ordosica community on FC, indicating A. ordosica communities had a tendency to change into typical steppe vegetation with the further fixation. We conclude that the significant differentiation not only occurred in community characteristics, but also in the relationships between vegetation and environmental factors among the three stages of dune fixation. So, restoration of degraded dune ecosystems should be based on habitat conditions and ecological needs.     

Nest-site selection pattern of Grus japonensis in Zhalong Nature Reserve of northeast China

Nest-site selection patterns of Red-crowned cranes(Grus japonensis) and the effects of environmental variables were studied during the years of 2002-2008 in Zhalong Nature Reserve,Qiqihar city,northeast China.The nest-site selection pattern of Red-crowned cranes included two orders and three choices:the choice of nest-site habitat type within the macro-habitat order,nest zone selection and nest-site micro-habitat selection within the micro-habitat order.Various habitats(such as Carex swamps and reed fire districts) can be selected as the nest sites for Red-crowned cranes,of which reed swamps(93.15%) are given a preference.Factor Analysis reveals that the micro-habitat selection are affected by four main factors:fire,security(concealment /disturbance),incubation(conditions,nest-material),and food.Further analysis reveals that Red-crowned cranes have certain adaptability to the changes of nesting habitat quality in the Zhalong wetlands.In conclusion,fire,reeds,and water were the most important variables for nest-site habitat selection of Red-crowned Cranes in Zhalong Nature Reserve.     

Floristic composition and ecological gradient analyses of the Liakot Forests in the Kalam region of District Swat,Pakistan

Kalam Kohistan is a dry,temperate hilly region in the Hindu Raj Series of the Greater Hindu Kush Mountains with diverse forests.As plant distribution and composition is expression of a range of various environmental variables,ecological and floristic attributes of vegetation in the Laikot Forests were therefore evaluated via consecutive explorative trips.These forests have not been evaluated ecologically before due to harsh climatic conditions and issues of accessibility and the study in hand is one of the first in its nature.Quantitative ecological techniques were used to sample forest vegetation and identify species in quadrats of 2 m×2 m for herbs,5 m×5 m for shrubs and 10 m×10 m for trees.All the data of 195 plant species and environmental factors were analyzed via Two-way Cluster Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis using PCORD and CANOCO software.Among 195 plant species from 63 families were 27 species of Asteraceae,the most-speciose family,followed by Poaceae(20 spp.).The dominant life form was therophyte(86 spp.;44%share),followed by phanerophyte(41 spp.;21%share).For the leaf size spectrum,most prevalent was nanophyll(73 spp.;44%)followed by microphyll(66 spp.,34%)and mesophyll(44 spp.;23%).Calcium carbonate,pH,potassium,sand,silt,organic matter,slope aspect and grazing significantly influenced species composition,distribution and habitat.The floristic variation in the region was diverse due to elevational and aspect gradients and thus devided into three zones.This vegetation zonation can be utilized for forest management,species and habitat conservation.Both in situ and ex situ conservation of threatened plant species may improve their conservation status in future if address properly.     

Vegetation-environment relationships in the forests of Chitral district Hindukush range of Pakistan

We investigated the composition of plant communities to quantify their relationships with environmental parameters in the Chitral Hindukush range of Pakistan. We sampled tree vegetation using the Point Centered Quarter (PCQ) method while understory vegetation was sampled in 1.5-m circular quadrats. Cedrus deodara is the national symbol of Pakistan and was dominant in the sampled communities. Because environmental variables determine vegetation types, we analyzed and evaluated edaphic and topographic factors. DCA-Ordination showed the major gradient as an amalgam of elevation (p<0.05) and slope (p<0.01) as the topographic factors correlated with species distribution. Soil variables were the factors of environmental significance along DCA axes. However, among these factors, Mg2+ , K + and N2+ contributed not more than 0.054% 0.20% and 0.073%, respectively, to variation along the first ordination axis. We conclude that the principal reason for weak or no correlation with many edaphic variables was the anthropogenic disturbance of vegetation. The understory vegetation was composed of perennial herbs in most communities and was most dense under the tree canopy. The understory vegetation strongly regulates tree seedling growth and regeneration patterns. We recommend further study of the understory vegetation using permanent plots to aid development of forest regeneration strategies.     

Logging and topographic effects on tree community structure and habitat associations in a tropical upland evergreen forest,Ghana

We determined the response of tree community structure to logging disturbance and topography,and the patterns of tree-habitat associations in Tano Offin Forest Reserve,Ghana.We sampled trees in 27 20 m× 20 m plots randomly and equally distributed in three topographic habitats(slope,valley,and hilltop) in each of two forests:logged and unlogged.Two topographic features,altitude and degree of slope,were measured and related with species composition.Overall,there were significant effects of logging and topographic habitat and their interaction on species diversity and composition,with the unlogged forest and valley habitat supporting higher diversity.Tree diversity varied among the topographic habitats in the logged but not in the unlogged forest.There were topographic effects on abundance of individual species but not on tree community abundance and basal area.Logging and its interaction with topographic habitat showed significant effects on tree abundance and basal area.Some species were associated with specific topographic habitats or a combination in the logged and unlogged forests.However,the patterns of habitat associations of the species differed between the logged and unlogged forests.     

Genetic structure of needle morphological and anatomical traits of Pinus yunnanensis

Pinus yunnanensis Franch. is an particular conifer tree species in Yunnan–Guizhou plateau in southwest China. The morphological and anatomical traits of needles are important to evaluate geographic variation and population dynamics of conifer species. Seedlings from seven populations of P. yunnanensis were analyzed, looking at 22 morphological and anatomical needle traits. The results showed that variations among and within populations were significantly different for all traits and the variance components within populations were generally higher than that among populations in the most tested needle traits. The proportions of three-needle fascicle were significantly different among populations. The traits related to needle size in both morphology and anatomy were positive with latitude and negative with annual temperature and precipitation. Ratio indices, including mesophyllarea/vascular bundle area, mesophyll area/resin canals area, vascular bundle area/resin canals area and mesophyll area/(resin canals area and vascular bundle area), were negatively correlated with elevation and positively correlated with the annual mean temperature, showing some fitness feature for the populations. Needle traits were more significantly correlated with longitude than with other four environmental factors. Needle length was significantly correlated with almost all environmental factors. First four principal components accounted for 81.596 % of the variation with eigenvalues [1; the differences among populations were mainly dependent on needle width,stomatal density, section areas of vascular bundle, total resin canals, and mesophyll, as well as area ratio traits.Seven populations were divided into three categories by Euclidean distance. Variations in needle traits among the populations have shown systematic microevolution in terms of geographic impact on P. yunnanensis. This study would provide empirical data to characterize adaptation and genetic variation of P. yunnanensis, which would be helpful for management of genetic resources and reasonable utilization of them in future.     

Comparison of woody species composition between rocky outcrops and nearby matrix vegetation on degraded karst hillslopes of Southwest China

Habitats with different features such as soil depth and soil/rock conditions can provide favorable environments for species with different requirements, while anthropogenic disturbances normally exert additional effects on species composition. However, specific studies have rarely been conducted in the degraded karst regions of Southwest China despite the high heterogeneity of karst habitats and past human disturbances. In this study, woody species richness and composition on rocky outcrops on a typical karst hillslope were investigated and compared with those of nearby matrices on shallow and rocky soil. Our results showed that matrix vegetation was more diverse in genera and species than vegetation on rocky outcrops. This might relate to the contrasting substrate features and different disturbance histories of these two habitats. Unlike the significant effect of slope on species richness of the matrix vegetation, rocky outcrops exhibited no significant differences between upper and lower slope positions, largely because their microhabitats were similar in different slope positions. Although the study area has been reforested naturally for about 30 years, woody species of the matrix vegetation were still dominated by pioneer shrub species. Rocky outcrops were dominated by late-successional tree species, which was primarily related to their isolated features and resistance to certain disturbances. Most of these late-successional species were not habitat endemics, indicating the possibility for their encroachment into surrounding the matrix. From this aspect, further studies will be necessary to identify and address the limiting factors for the encroachment of these late-successional species into the surrounding environment.     

Effects of environmental factors on species richness patterns of herb layer in Eastern Zhongtiao Mountain

The species richness of herb layer was investigated among 43 plots of forest vegetation in the eastern Zhongtiao Mountain, in southern Shanxi Province, China. The forest vegetation was divided into two major vegetation types such as the deciduous forest and the coniferous forest by the two-way indicator species analysis （TWINSPAN）. The species richness of herb layer was fitted in the topographic and soil feature factors, as well as the topographic relative moisture index （TRMI） by the generalized linear models （GLM）. The results showed that canopy cover and altitude were the most significant environmental factors. Soil pH value and soil nutrients index such as total N, organic matter content had no significant influence. The effect of environment factors on species richness of herb layer had significant difference in vegetation types. For the broad-leaved forest, litter depth and TRMI were the important environment factors. For the coniferous forest, soil clay content was another important environment factor. The range of environmental gradient such as altitude may contribute to the difference.     

Correlation between the avian community and habitat at different water levels during spring migration in Zhalong National Nature Reserve, China

Zhalong National Nature Reserve(Zhalong) is an important stopover for migratory birds.In recent decades,Zhalong has become the focus of researchers and public discussion in relation to irrigation.We studied relationships between birds and habitats at different water levels to guide development of more effective habitat management measures.We used line transects to survey bird numbers and distribution during April-May from 2005-2009 at Zhalong,and used cluster analysis and Chi-Square tests to analyze data.We recorded 139 bird species of 39 families and 13 orders during spring migration,including Anseriformes,Charadriiformes,Ciconiiformes,Columbiformes,Coraciiformes,Cuculiformes,Falconiformes,Galliformes,Gruiformes,Passeriformes,Piciformes,Podicipediformes,Strigiformes.Dominant vegetation and geographic region were the main influence factors of avian distribution.Different ecological groups preferred different water levels(p<0.01) and different habitat types(p<0.01).Grallatores,Natatores and Passeres were the main ecological groups in different wetland habitats,and reed marsh and lake are the main habitats for management.Grallatores preferred reed marsh and lake with water levels >30 cm and 5 15 cm.Natatores preferred lakes with deep water(>30 cm).Passeres preferred open forest and reed marsh with no surface water.Different avian ecological groups occupied specific habitats depending on water level and we recorded some overlaps in bird distribution.     

樊净山自然保护区黔金丝猴生境选择的研究

适宜的生境是珍稀濒危生物生存的决定性条件,对珍稀濒危生物生境的系统研究是生物多样性保护的前提。金丝猴是中国特有并且珍稀的濒危物种,黔金丝猴又是三种金丝猴中分布最为狭窄、对生境要求最为苛刻的一种。本文从黔金丝猴的最佳适宜生境、适宜生境和较适宜生境三个生境选择方面对生境内植物群落特征、环境因子、极端环境因子等进行了系统分析,对黔金丝猴的季节活动规律、活动区域和食物特点进行了系统的研究。结果表明常绿针阔混交林是黔金丝猴的最佳生存的植被群落,其最适宜的年均温度为8～15C,极端最低温度为-2.5C,极端最高温度为25C,最适宜生存的海拔高度为1500～1700m。在同一区域,植物多样性越多,越适宜黔金丝猴的生存。温度和食物是决定黔金丝猴种群活动范围大小的主要生境因子,海拔高度、植被群落特征、温度是黔金丝猴对生境选择的主要限制因子。图3表3参16。     

Vitality and storage condition of Syringa pollen

The fresh pollen vitality,the effect of different storage conditions on the pollen vitality,and the difference of vitality among the species of seven species of Syringa were determined in Shenyang,China.The results indicated that the pollen vitality (81.5%) of Syringa villosa was the highest among the seven tested species,followed by S.microphylla and S.meyeri,and that of S.oblata var.affinis was the lowest.The low temperature was the best condition for storage of pollen of Syringa,and the most proper temperature for the storage was 0-2℃.The storability of S.microphylla was the best of all,and it could be stored over 60 days at the temperature of 0-2℃,next was S.villosa and S.meyeri.     

Dynamics of the vegetation eco-boundary under climate warming in Northeast China

I "trod notionClimate warming is one of the most serious environment problems. It is sure that the present elevation of COZ and other greenhouse gases such as CH4,NzO, Of induced by human activities were makingglobal climate to go through inexperienced changes(Zhao et al. 1998i Wu 1989). The ecosystems distributed in high latitude area were likely to experiencemuch bigger change according to some previous researches (Shetwood 1983). This is the main reasonthat we focus on effects of possi…     

Establishing evaluation index system for desertification of Keerqin sandy land with remote sensing data

科尔沁位于我国东北部,地处东北平原向内蒙古高原的过渡地带(42°41'-45°15'N,118°35'-123°30'E),是受荒漠化影响较重的地区。利用外业调查数据,依据地表形态和生态状况的变化,确定了植被盖度、裸沙地占地百分比和土壤质地3 项评价指标,并建立了基于遥感的科尔沁沙质荒漠化评价指标体系,其中裸沙地占地百分比用混合像元分解的方法获得。利用外业调查的数据对该指标体系进行验证,结果表明该指标体系适于研究区域的荒漠化评价。表4参11。     

黄河三角洲自然保护区丹顶鹤生境适宜性变化分析

生境丧失及破碎化是引起物种濒危和生物多样性降低的主要原因.基于地理信息系统和遥感技术,生成保护区丹顶鹤有无人为干扰下生境适宜性图,并选取一系列的景观格局指数,分析1992(2006年内保护区内丹顶鹤生境适宜性变化规律及其原因.结果表明,由于缺乏淡水来源,无论有无人为干扰,1999年丹顶鹤生境适宜性最差,适宜生境面积大量丧失,生境破碎化严重.14年来,保护区内的人为干扰不断加大,以道路干扰最为显著.人为干扰促使丹顶鹤生境质量下降,生境适宜性变得更差,并导致2006年生境适宜性劣于1992年.驱动保护区内丹顶鹤生境适宜性变化的主要影响因素是水源及人为活动.     

基于MaxEnt模型的毛红椿适生区预测

[目的]了解环境因子对毛红椿适生区分布的影响,为其资源保护、引种及其人工林的发展提供参考。[方法]基于MaxEnt模型能利用现存不完整、小样本、离散型分布数据构建物种适生区预测模型,用受试者工作曲线线下面积(AUC)检验预测模型的精度,面积越大精度越高等优点,本研究应用毛红椿在云南的分布数据及1个地型因子和6个气候因子,来构建其适生区分布模型。[结果]毛红椿适生区分布MaxEnt模型平均训练AUC和平均测试AUC分别为0.891、0.885,说明对毛红椿适生区的预测是可靠的;降水量变异系数和最干季度降水量是决定毛红椿适生区分布的主要因子,年均气温变化范围、最冷季度平均气温、最湿季度降水量、最冷季度降水量是次要因子。在当代和未来(2050S、2070S)气候变暖条件下(RCP2.6情景),云南省和全国适生区面积计算结果直观、定量的反应了全球变暖对毛红椿适生区变迁的影响。[结论]预测云南省及全国的毛红椿适生区随全球变暖而小幅萎缩。     

花尾榛鸡（Bonasa bonasia）在韩国温带林中的季节性移动特性

This study were carried out in the Experimental Forest (37° 48′ 10″ N, 127° 48′ 50″ E) of Gangwon Forest Development Institute, Gamjeong-ri, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province, Korea from Dec. 1999 to Jul. 2002. Eight individuals (three males and five females) of hazel grouse were captured and they were marked with a 14-g necklace-type transmitter. The surveying results showed that females were more active than males throughout the year, but males were more mobile than females in spring. The degree of movement for females and males was similar from summer to winter. The overlap degree of habitat was very large from spring to autumn. Hazel grouse had greater shifts in area use in winter. They used similar area from spring to autumn, made a shift in their habitat use in winter, and then shifted back to the previous habitat. Foundation item: This paper was supported by the Agricultural R & D Promotion Center (No. 198046-3), Korea Biography: Shin-Jae RHIM (1970-), male, Ph. Doctor in University Forests, Seoul National University, Suwon 441-744, Korea. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

The contribution of root respiration of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus koraiensis</Emphasis> seedlings to total soil respiration under elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentrations

The impacts of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (500 μmol·mol⁻¹ and 700 μmol·mol⁻¹) on total soil respiration and the contribution of root respiration ofPinus koraiensis seedlings were investigated from May to October in 2003 at the Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin Province, China. After four growing seasons in top-open chambers exposed to elevated CO₂, the total soil respiration and roots respiration ofPinus koraiensis seedlings were measured by a Li-6400-09 soil CO₂ flux chamber. Three PVC cylinders in each chamber were inserted about 30 cm into the soil instantaneously to terminate the supply of current photosynthates from the tree canopy to roots for separating the root respiration from total soil respiration. Soil respirations both inside and outside of the cylinders were measured on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively. The results indicated that: there was a marked diurnal change in air temperature and soil temperature at depth of 5 cm on June 16, the maximum of soil temperature at depth of 5 cm lagged behind that of air temperature, no differences in temperature between treatments were found (P>0.05). The total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed showed strong diurnal and seasonal patterns. There was marked difference in total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed between treatments (P<0.01); Mean total soil respiration and contribution of root under different treatments were 3.26, 4.78 and 1.47 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, 11.5%, 43.1% and 27.9% on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively. Foundation item: This study was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX1-SW-01) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30070158). Biography: LIU Ying (1976-), female, Ph. D. Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

露天煤矿排土场植被调查与自然恢复研究(英文)

通过分析辽宁省海州露天煤矿排土场植被组成、物种多样性及重要值的变化,研究了排土场植物群落恢复与演替的一般规律。结果表明:排土场共有植物63 种,分属于23 科,其中菊科15 种、豆科11 种、禾本科8 种;蒺藜+水稗草+猪毛菜、水稗草+大籽蒿+黄蒿、水稗草+披硷草+黄蒿+大籽蒿+黄花草木犀、芦苇+披硷草+水稗草+狗尾草分别是年限为5、10、20、40 梯田层群落的优势种群;重要值对植被重建中物种筛选有指示性,蒺藜在排土场人工恢复中可做为先锋种,披硷草、芦苇、水稗草可做为重要的优势种;排土场植被自然恢复速度缓慢,为了尽快改善生态环境,应该筛选并合理配置先锋植物和适生植物,进行植被重建,加强抚育管理,缩短演替进程。表2 参17。     

Extraction of betulin from bark of Betula platyphylla by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Betulin, which is a medicinal pentacyclic triterpene, is abundant in the bark of white birch (Betula platyphlly). The bark of birch was collected at Tayuan Forest Farm of Jiagedaqi, Heilongjiang Province in September 2000. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) that is a new separation technology has been used for the processing pharmaceutical and natural products. In this paper, the extraction of betulin from the bark of birch by supercritical CO2 extraction was studied. The authors investigated and analyzed a few parameters such as modifier dosage, extraction pressure and extraction temperature. The optimal extraction conditions showed that the modifier dosage used for per gram bark powder was 1.5 mL, the extraction pressure was at 20 Mpa, and the extraction temperature was at 55 ℃. The velocity of flow of liquid CO2 was at 10 kg/h. The pressure and temperature in separation vessel were at 5.5 Mpa and 50 ℃, respectively.