蜥蜴对内蒙古典型草原群落多样性和地上生物量的影响

为研究蜥蜴(Phrynocephalus frontalis)活动对内蒙古典型草原群落多样性、地上生物量、群落结构、生活型组成以及优势种生物量的影响,于2012年6月和8月在内蒙古毛登牧场围封草场内布设有蜥蜴样地和对照样地,进行样方调查和生物量取样.结果表明:与对照样地相比,蜥蜴样地6月的Shannon-Wiener指数和均匀度显著降低,8月Shannon-Wiener指数、均匀度和物种丰富度均显著低于对照样地;蜥蜴样地的群落生物量在6月和8月分别比对照样地高68.85和111 g·m^-2;在功能群水平,蜥蜴样地一年生植物和多年生禾草的生物量比例比对照样地增加了19.1%和11.0%,而多年生杂类草生物量比例降低了19.8%;在物种水平,蜥蜴样地羊草(Leymus chinensis)生物量的比例在生长季节初期达到了75.0%.可见在内蒙古典型草原,蜥蜴干扰可使一年生植物和多年生禾草的生物量比例增加,而使多年生杂类草的物种数和生物量比例显著降低;蜥蜴干扰显著促进了羊草的生长;同时会降低群落的物种多样性,提高地上生物量.     

Responses of Chaparral and Oak Woodland Plant Communities to Fuel-Reduction Thinning in Southwestern Oregon

Fire suppression has led to large fuel accumulations in many regions of the United States. In response to concerns about associated wildfire hazards, land managers in the western United States are carrying out extensive fuel-reduction thinning programs. Although reductions in cover by woody vegetation seem likely to cause changes in herbaceous communities, few published studies have reported on consequences of such treatments for native or exotic plant species. We compared vegetation and abiotic characteristics between paired thinned and unthinned chaparral and oak woodland communities of southwestern Oregon 4–7 yr posttreatment and contrasted impacts of manual vs. mechanical treatments. Herbaceous cover increased on thinned sites, but species richness did not change. Herbaceous communities at thinned sites had an early postdisturbance type of composition dominated by native annual forbs and exotic annual grasses; cover by annuals was nearly twice as high on treated as on untreated sites. Absolute and proportional cover of native annual forbs increased more than any other trait group, whereas exotic annual forbs and native perennial forbs declined. Exotic annual grass cover (absolute and proportional) increased, whereas cover by native perennial grasses did not. Shrub reestablishment was sparse after thinning, probably because of a lack of fire-stimulated germination. Manual and mechanical treatment impacts on abiotic site conditions differed, but differences in vegetation impacts were not statistically significant. Fuel-reduction thinning may have some unintended negative impacts, including expansion of exotic grasses, reductions in native perennial species cover, persistent domination by annuals, and increased surface fuels. Coupled with sparse tree or shrub regeneration, these alterations suggest that ecological-state changes may occur in treated communities. Such changes might be mitigated by retaining more woody cover than is currently retained, seeding with native perennials after treatment, or other practices; further research is needed to inform management in these ecosystems.     

Herbicide-Assisted Restoration of Great Basin Sagebrush Steppe Infested With Medusahead and Downy Brome

Downy brome or cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) are the most problematic invasive annual grasses in rangelands of the western United States, including sagebrush communities that provide habitat to sage grouse. Rehabilitation of infested sites requires effective weed control strategies combined with seeding of native plants or desirable competitive species. In this study, we evaluated the effect of three fall-applied pre-emergence herbicides (imazapic, rimsulfuron, and chlorsulfuron + sulfometuron), and one spring-applied postemergence herbicide (glyphosate) on the control of downy brome and medusahead and the response of seeded perennial species and resident vegetation in two sagebrush communities in northeastern California. All pre-emergence treatments gave > 93% control of both invasive species at both sites in the first year. Glyphosate was less consistent, giving > 94% control at one site and only 61% control of both species at the other site. Imazapic was the only herbicide to maintain good control (78–88%) of both species 2 yr after treatment. No herbicide caused detectible long-term damage to either perennial grasses or annual forbs, and imazapic treatment resulted in an increase in resident native forb cover 3 yr after treatment. Broadcast seeding with or without soil incorporation did not result in successful establishment of perennial species, probably due to below-average precipitation in the year of seeding. These results indicate that several chemical options can give short-term control of downy brome and medusahead. Over the course of the study, imazapic provided the best management of both invasive annual grasses while increasing native forb cover.     

Effect of Pinyon–Juniper Tree Cover on the Soil Seed Bank

As pinyon–juniper (specifically, Pinus monophylla and Juniperus osteosperma) woodlands in the western United States increase in distribution and density, understory growth declines and the occurrence of crown fires increases, leaving mountainsides open to both soil erosion and invasion by exotic species. We examined if the loss in understory cover that occurred with increasing tree cover was reflected in the density and diversity of the seed bank. Seed banks in stands with low, medium, and high tree cover were measured in late October for 2 yr. Multivariate analyses indicated that cover and diversity of standing vegetation changed as tree cover increased. However, the seed bank did not differ in overall seed density or species diversity because seeds of the 13 species that comprised 86% of the seed bank occurred in similar density across the tree-cover groups. Sixty-three percent of the species that were in the seed bank were absent from the vegetation (mostly annual forbs). In addition, 49% of the species that occurred in the standing vegetation were not in the seed bank (mostly perennial forbs and shrubs). Only Artemisia tridentata, Bromus tectorum, and Collinsia parviflora displayed positive Spearman rank correlations between percent cover in the vegetation and density in the seed bank. Thus, much of the standing vegetation was not represented in the seed bank, and the few species that dominated the seed bank occurred across varying covers of pinyon–juniper.     

Long-Term Effects of Weed Control With Picloram Along a Gradient of Spotted Knapweed Invasion

Broadleaf herbicides are commonly used in rangelands to suppress exotic weeds and release native communities from negative impacts of invasion. However, few studies have comprehensively evaluated treatment effects on differing community components across a gradient of initial invasion levels. We conducted a 6-yr experiment within grasslands of western Montana to measure local-scale effects of a broadcast application of picloram on 1) cover of the target invader, spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe L.), 2) prevalence of native functional groups, and 3) the secondary invader cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) at differing initial levels of knapweed invasion. Treatment effectively suppressed knapweed, with cover in treated vs. control plots reduced by >60% in the sixth posttreatment year. Treatment also appeared to alleviate knapweed’s impacts on native perennial grasses, but only at the highest initial level of invasion, where cover of this group increased by >30% in treated vs. control plots to equal levels associated with noninvaded plots. In some cases, treatment appeared to exacerbate knapweed’s impacts on native forbs. At the no-invasion level, perennial forb cover declined by >20% in treated vs. control plots to match values associated with moderate or high levels of invasion, but these treatment effects were minimal at the latter invasion levels. Across initial invasion levels, species richness of perennial and/or annual forbs declined by >20% in treated vs. control plots. Treatment also promoted increases in cheatgrass cover, although differences between treated and control plots were relatively small by the sixth posttreatment year. Overall, effects of picloram application depended on initial levels of knapweed invasion, largely due to the varying strength of release effects. Selective treatment of invaded patches vs. broadcast applications would reduce side effects of broadleaf herbicide application and increase compatibility with other management measures designed to improve rangeland conditions and restore grassland communities.     

Lack of Native Vegetation Recovery Following Biological Control of Leafy Spurge

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) is an aggressive exotic species that has been successfully suppressed in a variety of situations using classical biological control (flea beetles; Aphthona spp.). This 9-yr study investigated patterns of vegetation responses following significant reductions in leafy spurge cover and density by flea beetles in southeastern Montana. We hypothesized that the vegetation following leafy spurge suppression would be dominated by species and plant functional groups able to persist through heavy infestations. Flea beetles were first released in 1998, and by 2006 leafy spurge foliar cover was reduced 80% to 90% compared to 1998 values on both release and nonrelease plots. Although total cover of the resident vegetation, excluding leafy spurge, increased 72% to 88%, relative cover of the functional groups (native forbs, native sedges, native grasses, and non-native species) was similar among years and between release and nonrelease plots. Mean diversity and mean species richness values did not differ among years or between release and nonrelease plots (P < 0.05), but mean diversity on both release and nonrelease plots was significantly less than noninfested plots, although richness was similar (P < 0.05). Indicator species analysis revealed that non-native Poa spp. replaced leafy spurge as the dominant species on release and nonrelease plots. Conversely, noninfested plots contained a variety of native species with high indicator values. Although total abundance of the resident vegetation in 2006 was significantly greater than 1998, plant species composition and relative cover showed little change for the duration of the study. Failure of the native vegetation to recover to a community that approached nearby noninfested conditions may be attributed to a variety of interacting scenarios, some of which may be ameliorated by treating infestations as soon as possible to avoid long-term residual effects.     

Long-Term Response Patterns of Tallgrass Prairie to Frequent Summer Burning

Knowledge of how tallgrass prairie vegetation responds to fire in the late growing season is relatively sparse and is based upon studies that are either spatially or temporally limited. To gain a more robust perspective of vegetation response to summer burning and to determine if repeated summer fire can drive vegetational changes in native tallgrass prairie, we evaluated species cover and richness over a 14-yr period on different topographic positions from ungrazed watersheds that were burned biennially in the growing season. We found that annual forbs were the primary beneficiaries of summer burning, but their fluctuations varied inconsistently among years. Concomitantly, species richness and diversity increased significantly with summer burning but remained stable through time with annual spring burning. After 14 yr, species richness was 28% higher in prairie that was burned in the summer than in prairie burned in the spring. Canopy cover of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans [L.] Nash) increased significantly over time with both summer and spring burning, whereas heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides [L.] Nesom), aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium [Nutt.] Nesom), and sedges (Carex spp.) increased in response to only summer burning. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) cover declined in both spring-burned and summer-burned watersheds. Repeated burning in either spring or summer did not reduce the cover or frequency of any woody species. Most perennial species were neutral in their reaction to summer fire, but a few species responded with large and inconsistent temporal fluctuations that overwhelmed any clear patterns of change. Although summer burning did not preferentially encourage spring-flowering forbs or suppress dominance of the warm-season grasses, it is a potentially useful tool to increase community heterogeneity in ungrazed prairie.     

Decreasing Precipitation Variability Does Not Elicit Major Aboveground Biomass or Plant Diversity Responses in a Mesic Rangeland

Inter- (between years) and intra- (within year) annual variability of precipitation are high on rangelands. We used replicated rainout shelters in a southern tallgrass prairie ecosystem to decrease precipitation variability for 3 yr (1999–2001). We removed interannual variability in total precipitation plus either 1) interannual variability in the seasonal distribution of precipitation (seasonal distribution) or 2) all additional variability in precipitation, including within-year differences in precipitation (even distribution). Our objective was to determine if decreasing variability in precipitation elicits aboveground biomass and plant diversity responses. Aboveground biomass was harvested in June (peak biomass) and December (end of growing season). Plant species diversity, richness, and evenness were determined each June. Reducing precipitation variability had limited effects on total aboveground biomass, grass and forb biomass, and biomass of key species across the 3 yr of investigation. Species richness, species diversity, species evenness, and functional group richness and diversity all were similar across the precipitation treatments across years. Total aboveground biomass and biomass of the dominant C4 perennial grasses little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) generally were not responsive to the precipitation treatments. However, one species-specific response did occur with the annual forb firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella Foug.) displaying consistent increases in biomass in the seasonal distribution precipitation treatment across all 3 yr. This suggests that increased predictability of precipitation at a given stage of this species’s growth can elicit changes in productivity of a single species that are not manifest at the community level due to constraints of the dominant species. These findings indicate that the southern tallgrass prairie ecosystem is adaptable to changes in precipitation to result in relatively stable production that facilitates simpler predictions in response to altered precipitation regimes.     

Short-Term Response of Two Beneficial Invertebrate Groups to Wildfire in an Arid Grassland System,United States

Rangeland invertebrates contribute greatly to biodiversity and provide important services including pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling. As wildfire frequency increases across these areas of the United States, it is imperative to understand how these disturbances affect beneficial invertebrate communities. We examined bee (Hymenoptera), spider (Araneae), and vegetative communities 1 yr before and 1 yr after a large wildfire swept across an intact grassland in eastern Oregon. Several sites were left unburned after the fire, and a before-after-control-impact study design was used to assess changes within the communities. Fire had no effect on bee or spider abundance, or spider diversity or richness; however, fire significantly increased native bee diversity and richness. In addition, composition of both native bee and spider communities differed significantly between burned and unburned areas 1 yr after the fire. Sheet web spiders (Linyphiidae) and several bee species (primarily large, generalist species) were associated with burned sites. Invasive annual grass and biological soil crust cover decreased significantly in burned sites, but maximum vegetation height and litter cover did not differ significantly among treatments. Forb abundance increased in burned sites; however, species richness of forbs in burned and unburned sites did not differ significantly 1 yr after the fire. Several forbs were indicative of burned areas including non-native species, such as Douglas’ knotweed (Polygonum douglasii) and Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), and native species such as Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis), hoary tansyaster (Machaeranthera canescens), and tall willowherb (Epilobium brachycarpum). This study demonstrates that both invertebrate and plant communities show strong short-term responses to wildfire, and our results can be used to inform management of rare habitat and biodiversity in rangelands impacted by wildfire in arid grasslands.     

松嫩草地植物功能生态学研究

随着功能生态学的发展,植物功能生态学研究越来越受到重视.以松嫩草地为对象,调查该区域植被状况及功能性状特征,通过控制试验研究刈割、施氮、植被低矮稀疏化等干扰条件下羊草(Leymus chinensis)性状和羊草群落特征的变化,探讨在自然和干扰条件下物种丰富度、功能群丰富度、物种多样性指数、功能性状多样性与群落地上生物量的关系. 松嫩草地66种草本植物7个叶片性状特征表明:叶片厚度变异系数最大,比叶面积、叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、叶绿素含量和类胡萝卜素含量之间存在显著的正相关关系;叶片干物质含量与叶片磷含量没有显著的相关关系,但是与其他叶片性状成显著的负相关关系;叶片厚度与叶片干物质含量和比叶面积成显著的负相关关系,但是与其他叶片性状不相关.方差分析表明,叶片干物质含量、比叶面积、叶片厚度、叶片氮、叶片磷含量在4个功能群(多年生根茎禾草、多年生丛生禾草、多年生杂类草、1年生或2年生植物)间差异显著,叶绿素含量和类胡萝卜素含量在各个功能群间差异不显著.多年生根茎禾草和多年生丛生禾草有较高的叶片干物质含量和较低的比叶面积、叶片厚度和叶片氮和磷含量.松嫩草地草本植物叶片氮和磷含量分别为22.7±0.9 mg·g^-1和1.8 ±0.0 mg·g^-1,氮磷比为13.0,氮相对缺乏. 松嫩草地植物群落生产力高,群落饱和度低,优势种在群落中占的比例大.多年生根茎禾草和多年生杂类草群落物种丰富度最高,各群落间功能群丰富度没有显著差异,1年生或2年生植物群落地上生物量最高.地上生物量与多样性关系表明,株高、叶面积和叶片氮含量等功能性状多样性比物种丰富度、功能群丰富度、均匀度和辛普森指数等多样性指标能更好的预测生产力的变化,支持质量比假说,草地管理中应集中于优势种的管理. 秋季或春季不同时间刈割,对群落植物物种丰富度和功能群丰富度都没有显著影响.群落高度性状与地上生物量有显著的正相关关系,物种丰富度、功能群丰富度和功能群多样性与地上生物量关系不显著. 氮添加对羊草的叶绿素a和b含量、类胡萝卜素含量、叶片氮含量、叶片干物质含量、比根长都有显著的作用;羊草的叶绿素a和b含量、类胡萝卜素含量、叶片氮磷含量、叶片干物质含量、比茎重、株高与羊草的地上生物量都有显著的相关性.氮添加处理对羊草群落的物种丰富度和功能群丰富度均没有显著的影响.氮添加当年,地上生物量随着物种丰富度和功能群丰富度的增加有减少的趋势,但是不显著. 不同高度和密度立枯物处理间羊草的比叶面积、比茎重、植株高度、叶片数、叶绿素a和b含量、类胡萝卜素含量及叶片氮含量都有显著的差异.随着植被低矮稀疏化,群落物种丰富度和地上生物量均有降低趋势.植被高度变化对羊草性状、群落特征的影响要大于植被密度.     

甘南玛曲高寒草甸草地沙化的研究

以甘南玛曲高寒草甸生态系统植物群落样地调查资料为基础,对不同沙化程度植物群落结构及物种多样性特征进行了研究分析。结果表明：随着草地沙化程度的加剧,植物群落多样性指数,均匀度指数及丰富度指数下降,优势度指数增加;禾草地上植物量减少,杂草、莎草地上植物量增加,其中,莎草增加最快。中度沙化阶段是植物群落丰富度、多样性、优势度、地上植物量和均匀度变化的一个转折点,演替早期群落多样性,均匀度及地上总植物量最高,在极度沙化阶段,地上总植物量最低,优势度指数最大。     

放牧强度对克氏针茅草原植物功能群的影响

植物功能群及其多样性是维持群落结构复杂性和稳定性的基础,一定程度上反映着草地生态系统的健康状况。本研究以内蒙古呼伦贝尔草原的克鲁伦河流域草原为研究对象,以植物生活型划分功能群类型,比较了3种放牧强度对植物功能群的组成结构、地上生物量和优势度的影响。结果表明,1)轻牧、中牧和重牧3种放牧条件下的总物种数分别为20、23和18种,符合"中度干扰假说";3种放牧强度下多年生非禾草物种数在群落中均占较高比例。2)轻度放牧条件下物种丰富度较低,但各放牧强度下功能群多样性无显著差异(P0.05),物种丰富度与功能群多样性无显著关系。3)随着放牧强度的增加,多年生禾草和灌木、半灌木在群落中的优势地位呈现下降趋势,与之相反,多年生非禾草优势地位越来越显著。重度放牧增加了一、二年生草本在群落中的物种数和地上生物量,但与轻牧、中牧相比,其优势度无显著变化(P0.05)。     

Chemical Control of Sand Sagebrush: Implications for Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat

Traditional management of sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) rangelands has emphasized sagebrush control to increase forage for livestock. Since the 1950s shrub removal has been primarily achieved with herbicides. Concerns over declining lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus; LPC) populations have led to increased scrutiny over the use of herbicides to control shrubs. The objective of our research was to describe changes to LPC habitat qualities following chemical control of sand sagebrush in northwest Oklahoma. Study pastures ranged in size from 10 to 21 ha. Five pastures were sprayed with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in 2003 (RECENT), five were sprayed with 2,4-D in 1984 (OLD), and four received no treatment (SAGE). We measured habitat structure (sagebrush cover, sagebrush density, visual obstruction &lsqb;VO], and basal grass cover), and dietary resources (forb density, forb richness, and grasshopper density) in all pastures from 2003 to 2006. OLD and RECENT pastures had less sagebrush (cover and density) and VO than SAGE pastures. OLD pastures produced more annual forbs than either SAGE or RECENT pastures. SAGE pastures had more perennial forbs than RECENT pastures. Herbicide application reduced protective cover while providing no increase in forb abundance in RECENT pastures. Our results indicated that it may take several years to realize increases in annual forbs following application of 2,4-D. However, loss of protective cover may persist for multiple years (20+ yr), and removal of sagebrush did not increase forb richness or grasshopper abundance. Thus, 2,4-D may have limited use as a habitat management tool because it takes numerous years to reap the benefit of increased forb abundance while reducing habitat structure in the long term.     

冬季火烧对黄土高原典型草原群落特征及土壤特征的影响

本研究采用野外样方调查和室内分析相结合的方法,分析了黄土高原典型草原冬季火烧区和未火烧区植物群落的物种组成、功能群组成、物种多样性、地上生物量,以及土壤有机碳和全氮。结果表明：冬季火烧显著降低了多年生禾草的重要值,而提高了多年生杂类草的重要值,而对一、二年生草本和灌木、半灌木功能群的重要值影响不显著。冬季火烧显著提高了灌木、半灌木在群落中的比例,并且降低了一、二年生草本的比例,但对多年生禾草和多年生杂类草的比例影响不显著。灌木、半灌木功能群的丰富度指数在火烧地显著大于未火烧地,而一、二年生草本的丰富度指数显著小于未火烧地。冬季火烧显著降低多年生禾草功能群的生物量和显著提高多年生杂类草功能群的生物量。火烧草地的土壤有机碳和全氮含量在0～10 cm土层中均显著高于未火烧草地。     

牦牛放牧模式对西藏高山嵩草草甸群落特征的影响

利用样方法对西藏高山嵩草（Kobresia pygmaea）草甸群落进行实地调查,分析了2010-2012年不同强度的牦牛放牧试验对植物群落动态和地上生物量的影响,以期为高寒牧区退化草地的恢复及草地高效利用提供理论指导。结果表明：适度放牧能提高物种多样性、丰富度、均一度和地上生物量,降低植物群落盖度;重度放牧降低植物群落的多样性和生物量;重度延迟放牧能缓减重度放牧对草地的不良影响;相关分析结果表明,植物群落盖度与均匀度、丰富度、植物密度、多样性和地上生物量成正相关。高山嵩草草甸的功能群随着放牧强度的增加而显著变化,其优势功能群多年生根茎型牧草高山嵩草和苔草（Carex moorcroftii）、多年生丛生型牧草紫花针茅（Stipa purpurea）的盖度和地上生物量随着放牧强度增加而下降。     

羊草人工草地生物多样性与生产力关系研究

1984年在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟白音锡勒牧场建立羊草人工草地,并对其进行了27年的定位观测,应用丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数对羊草人工草地进行多样性动态、多样性影响因素以及多样性与生产力关系的研究。结果表明:(1)播种羊草后,植物群落发生明显变化,原以冷蒿、糙隐子草和冰草为主的退化草原逐渐形成了由羊草+一二年生植物组成的草原群落。(2)1984～2010年,丰富度指数呈先缓慢升高后逐渐降低的趋势;Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数都呈逐渐增加趋势,并与演替年限(t)存在指数回归关系,即Shannon-Wiener指数(DI)=0.786e0.035t(R=0.782,P<0.05)、Pielou均匀度指数(HI)=0.226e0.038t(R=0.843,P<0.05),且均达显著水平。(3)Shannon-Wiener指数与多年生禾草的生物量、密度呈显著的负相关关系,与蔷薇科和多年生杂类草的生物量、密度呈极显著的正相关关系。(4)演替前期,Shannon-Wiener指数与地上生物量呈负相关关系(r=-0.709,P<0.05);演替后期,二者呈正相关关系(r=0.867,P<0.05),即在不同的演替阶段二者表现出不同的相关关系。     

沙地植物功能群及其多样性对微地形变化的响应

以内蒙古锡林郭勒盟中国科学院生态系统定位站长期围封的沙地样地为研究对象,通过测定植物群落的生物量、盖度、密度和株高等相关指标,探讨群落的物种组成、生物多样性等对沙地微地形变化的响应情况,以阐明沙地微地形对植被的影响机理.结果表明:沙地微地形对生物量、生活型、功能群及生物多样性均有影响.其中,总生物量顺序为:阴坡 > 坡底 > 阳坡 > 坡顶;植物多样性指数坡底显著低于阴坡、阳坡和坡顶(P < 0.05),而阴坡、阳坡和坡顶三者之间无显著差异;丰富度指数和均匀度指数阴坡、阳坡和坡顶显著高于坡底,阴坡、阳坡和坡顶三者之间差异不显著;坡底以多年生杂类草占优,阴坡以灌木、半灌木及多年生禾草为主,阳坡以灌木、半灌木、多年生禾草及一、二年生植物为主,坡顶以多年生禾草和一、二年生草本植物为主.     

土大黄的分布与云南省滇西北高山草地植物物种多样性的关系

2009年9月,用点样法调查了云南省滇西北贡山县迪麻村色娃龙巴高山牧场的4种不同土大黄(Rumexnepalensis)覆盖率群落的空间垂直分布,并采用Shannon’s多样性指数(H)和平均数(EH)对物种和群落多样性进行了分析。结果表明,调查的草地群落里共有25种牧草资源;土大黄覆盖率与毛囊苔草(Carexinanis)和银叶委陵菜(Potentillaleuconota)覆盖率呈负相关,与拉拉藤(Galiumaparine var.echino-spermu)和中华水芹(Oenanthe sinense)覆盖率呈正相关(P0.05);中等和中上等的土大黄覆盖率群落里具有最高的物种丰富度(19、17)、物种多样性指数(2.40、2.32)和物种均衡性(0.82、0.82),其次是高等的土大黄覆盖率群落,低等的土大黄覆盖率群落里则具有最低的物种丰富度(15)和物种多样性指数(1.98)。然而,低等的土大黄覆盖率群落里具有最高的总物种密度(15.65)。这些结果表明,土大黄对高山草地植物物种多样性的影响并不明显,造成物种多样性变化的主要原因是家畜的放牧强度和频率。     

东乌珠穆沁草甸草原不同退化程度草地植物群落结构与多样性研究

为深入研究不同退化程度草甸草原植物群落多样性及稳定性的动态变化规律,本研究采用样方法对东乌珠穆沁不同退化程度草甸草原植物群落结构及多样性进行了调查分析。结果表明：研究区植物主要为禾本科、菊科、蔷薇科、莎草科、豆科、唇形科。随草地退化程度加剧：草地植被盖度减小;群落优势种从禾本科、莎草科、豆科等优质牧草逐渐转变为杂类草植物;多年生植物优势度下降,一年生杂草优势度上升,群落稳定性变差。未退化草地物种丰富度最大,中度退化草地较未退化草地表现出较高的多样性、优势度、均匀度、丰富度指数,其余草地类型多样性差异不显著。未退化草地样点间植物群落相似度较高,与轻度、中度、重度退化草地植物群落组成差别较大。轻度、中度、重度退化草地间植物群落组成存在相似性。本研究结果为退化草甸草原的恢复重建提供参考。     

围封年限对内蒙古羊草-针茅典型草原植物功能群及其多样性的影响

以内蒙古锡林郭勒盟白音锡勒牧场境内的中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位站羊草样地为研究对象,选取2004年,1999年和1979年围封羊草样地,分种记录生物量、盖度、密度、株高等相关指标,研究不同围封年限条件下草原群落的物种组成、生物多样性及群落的功能群特征。结果表明,随着围封年限的增加,植物功能群结构及其多样性发生了变化,且最终趋于稳定。1999和1979年围封与2004年围封相比,多年生禾草和灌木、半灌木累积优势度显著降低(P＜0.05),多年生杂类草累积优势度出现不同程度升高;1999年和1979年围封条件下香农-韦弗指数显著高于2004年,1999年和1979年之间没有显著差异(P＞0.05);丰富度指数和均匀度指数2004年围封条件下显著高于1999年和1979年围封条件,1999年和1979年之间没有显著差异(P＞0.05);1999年和1979年围封条件下总生物量、多年生杂类草生物量、多年生禾草生物量及灌木和半灌木生物量均比2004年增加,其中总生物量及灌木和半灌木生物量显著高于2004年围封,1979年围封条件下灌木和半灌木生物量显著高于1999年围封,1999年和1979年围封条件下总生物量之间没有显著差异(P＞0.05),杂类草生物量1999年,1979年和2004年围封之间均表现出显著差异(P＜0.05),顺序为1979年＞1999年＞2004年。综上所述,长期围封促使草场灌丛化,降低草地利用价值,导致草地出现退化。