Effects of grazing practices and fossorial rodents on a winter avian community in Chihuahua, Mexico

Chihuahuan Desert grasslands are important wintering grounds for grassland and shrub-adapted birds. Many species belonging to these assemblages are currently exhibiting population declines. One area recognized for its importance to biological diversity, including grassland birds, is the Janos-Nuevo Casas Grandes black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) complex in northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, an area containing 58 colonies with 30,000 ha of prairie dogs. This is one of the largest remaining prairie dog complexes and the only intact complex in the Chihuahuan Desert. In its current condition, a large percentage of this complex is of reduced value to wildlife. Overgrazing on communal (ejido) lands has resulted in areas being comprised of annual grasses and forbs. The density of active prairie dog burrows and banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis) mounds as well as avian diversity and abundance were lower on ejido lands than an adjacent private ranchland with and without prairie dogs. Few avian species used overgrazed portions of the prairie dog colony. Community similarity among plot types was low due to different management practices and differences on and off colony. To retain, and in many instances restore the biological diversity of this important region it is essential to work with local ejidos on grazing management.     

科尔沁沙地系统开发研究--以奈曼旗为例

本文以奈曼旗为例，用生态经济学原理与系统工程的方法研究沙地综合开发，从宏观上以生态环境与社会经济协调发展为指导，进行整体战略研究；从微观上在不同类型地区和不同层次进行优化模式试点，并实施了六大生态工程，进行了六大开发，取得了较好的社会、经济和生态效益。     

Longterm influence of liquid sewage sludge on the organic carbon and nitrogen content of a furrow-irrigated desert soil

Summary In this study we evaluated the impact of five annual liquid sewage-sludge applications on the organic C and N content of a furrow-irrigated desert soil. Mineralization rates showed that sludge organic matter is mineralized rapidly (65% per year). Resistant residual sludge organic matter accumulation resulted in a theoretical increase in total soil organic C of 0.013% for the single sludge rate or 0.038% for three annual applications. These small additions were not detected in sludged soils at any depth to 270 cm. Similarly, increases in total soil N were not detected at any depth. However, soluble forms of organic C and N did increase in sludged soils relative to the non-sludged soils. In addition, soluble C:N ratios decreased significantly in the sludged soils. Soluble C and N also increased with depth due to leaching. This study therefore shows that applications of liquid sludge onto desert soils could affect the status of underground aquifers with respect to nitrate pollution.     

乌兰布和沙漠东北部天然植被动态及生态用水量研究

乌兰布和沙漠东北部的不同地类导致该地区天然植被生境差异，进而形成了有不同顶级植物组成的天然植物群落。本文在不同时期卫星影像解译的土地利用类型基础上，分析了乌兰布和沙漠东北部天然植被生境动态变化。结果表明，该地区固定半固定沙地面积均有所减少，流动沙地扩大，同时盐碱地大大萎缩。在此基础上，用间接推求方法估算了该地区天然植被的生态用水量，其中柠条群落的生态用水量占整个研究区域生态用水总量的50．01％，油蒿＋白刺＋沙冬青群落占41．03％，梭梭群落占7．38％，盐碱地柽柳群落占1．58％。     

库姆塔格沙漠及周边地表覆被变化监测

[目的]研究库姆塔格沙漠及周边区域地表覆被变化状况。[方法]通过遥感技术对库姆塔格沙漠及周边区域的地表覆被变化状况进行监测,并对该区1990年代、2000年代和2010年代的TM影像进行处理和分类,而后应用ArcGis软件对3期数据进行对比分析。[结果](1)该地区植被面积一直在增长,但仍然占很小比重,戈壁与裸地则占很大比重;(2)沙漠面积经历一个先增长后减少的过程,总体仍是增长;(3)湿地的稳定性最差,湿地的变动取决于水分的积聚与流失。[结论]人类已经着手改善该地生态环境,并取得一定效果。山地和库姆塔格沙漠南缘是绿化和防沙治沙的重点区域。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地人工绿地土壤及其影响因子分析研究

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地绿地建设长期使用４．０ｇ／Ｌ以上的高矿　化度地下水及生活污水灌溉，对土壤的理化、生化性质产生了重大影响．通过６年的定位试验　观测，数据表明原沙漠腹地风沙土０～２ｍ内可溶性离子总量下降，２ｍ以下增加；土壤粘粒、　有机质含量增加；土壤容重降低；土壤紧实度除表层以外，各层土壤由紧变松；土壤肥力显　著增强；土壤微生物的数量大幅增加，生物活性趋强．     

Cultivation effects on temporal changes of organic carbon and aggregate stability in desert soils of Hexi Corridor region in China

Sustainable agricultural use of cultivated desert soils has become a concern in Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province of China, because loss of topsoil in dust storms has been recently intensified. We chose four desert sites to investigate the effects of cultivation (cropping) on (i) soil organic C and its size fractions and (ii) soil aggregate stability (as a measure of soil erodibility). These parameters are of vital importance for evaluating the sustainability of agricultural practices.

Total organic C as well as organic C fractions in soil (coarse organic C, 0.1–2 mm; young organic C, 0.05–0.1 mm; stable organic C, <0.05 mm) generally increased with the duration of the cultivation period from 0 (virgin soil, non-cultivated) to more than 30 years (p < 0.05). Compared to total organic C in virgin soils (2.3–3.5 g kg⁻¹ soil), significantly greater values were found after 10 to >20 years of cultivation (6.2–7.1 g kg⁻¹ soil). The increase in organic C in desert soils following prolonged cultivation was mainly the consequence of an increase in the coarse organic C. The increase in total organic C in soil was also dependent on clay content [total organic C = 0.96 + 0.249 clay content (%) + 0.05 cultivation year, R² = 0.48, n = 27, p < 0.001]. This indicates that clay protected soil organic C from mineralization, and also contributed to the increase in soil organic C as time of cultivation increased.

There was a significant positive correlation between aggregate stability and total organic C across all field sites. The water stability of aggregates was low (with water-stable aggregate percentage 4% of dry-sieved aggregates of size 1–5 mm). There was no consistent pattern of increase in the soil aggregate stability with time of cultivation at different locations, suggesting that desert soils might remain prone to wind erosion even after 50 years of cultivation. Alternative management options, such as retaining harvested crop residues on soil surface and excluding or minimizing tillage, may permit sustainable agricultural use of desert soils.     

单株油蒿蒸腾耗水特征及其与环境因素的关系

[目的]探究油蒿的蒸腾耗水规律及其对环境因子的响应,旨在为固沙植被建设提供科学依据。[方法]利用野外大型称重式蒸渗仪于2014年6—9月底对单株油蒿的蒸腾过程进行连续观测,并同步监测了土壤含水量及相关气象因子。[结果]油蒿单日蒸腾强度曲线在晴天表现为双峰曲线,而在阴雨天双峰曲线不明显;研究期间,单株油蒿蒸腾耗水量为101.66mm,日平均蒸腾强度为0.83mm/d。蒸渗仪内土壤蒸发量106.05mm,日平均土壤蒸发强度为0.87mm/d,试验期间蒸散量占降雨量的82.98%。降雨可以维持油蒿正常生长,并对土壤水分进行一定补充;油蒿蒸腾强度与空气相对湿度(p0.01)、空气温度(p0.01)、太阳净辐射(p0.01)和20cm深度土壤体积含水量(p0.05)具有很好的相关性,且相关性依次减小。[结论]油蒿蒸腾耗水日变化明显,其蒸腾速率受土壤水分状况、气象条件及自身生理特征等因素的影响。     

Changes in mass and chemistry of plant roots during long-term decomposition on a Chihuahuan Desert watershed

We studied the spatial and temporal patterns of decomposition of roots of a desert sub-shrub, a herbaceous annual, and four species of perennial grasses at several locations on nitrogen fertilized and unfertilized transects on a Chihuahuan Desert watershed for 3.5 years. There were few significant differences between the decomposition rates of roots on the NH₄NO₃ fertilized and unfertilized transects. Decomposition of all roots followed a two-phase pattern: early rapid mass loss followed by a long period of low mass loss. Rates of decomposition were negatively correlated with the initial lignin content of the roots (r=0.90). Mass loss rates of the roots of the herbaceous annual, Baileya multiradiata, were significantly higher than those of the grasses and the shrub, probably as a result of subterranean termites feeding on B. multiradiata root material. The only location where mass loss rates were significantly different was the dry lake bed, where mass loss rates were lower than those recorded on the upper watershed. The spatial differences in mass loss rates in the dry lake were attributable to the high clay content of the soils, which reduced water availability, and to the absence of termites. Non-polar substances in decomposing roots decreased rapidly during the first year, then decreased at a low but fairly constant rate. Water-soluble compounds decreased rapidly (50–60% of initial concentration) during the first 3–6 months. Lignin concentrations of roots of perennial grasses were higher than those of herbaceous annual plants and woody shrubs. Lignin concentrations increased in all species during decomposition. The chemical changes in decomposing roots followed the patterns described for decomposing litter in mesic environments. Received: 20 January 1997     

乌兰布和沙漠新月形沙丘迎风坡风速变化的初步研究

对乌兰布和沙漠新月形沙丘表面风速的野外观测结果表明,沙丘迎风坡气流加速量主要和沙丘坡面形态、迎风坡前来流风速有关,迎风坡风速放大率介于1.02~1.59之间。近地面风速和输沙强度由坡脚至丘顶总体呈递增趋势,丘顶风速和输沙率最大,到背风坡因涡流作用,风速由丘顶至坡脚减小,输沙率锐减,相对于丘顶的风速率变化在0.17~0.49之间。由于输沙率与起沙风速的立方成正比,因而风速在迎风坡上向丘顶增加时,丘顶区域的输沙率(相对于坡脚)将成倍增加。