Spatial pattern and heterogeneity of soil properties in sand dunes under grazing and restoration in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China

Applying a combination of classical and geostatistical methods, we identified soil properties and their spatial variation in a 5-year grazed sand dune (GSD5) and a 20-year recovered sand dune (RSD20) in Horqin Sandy Land, northern China. The paper assesses the effect of grazing, topography and vegetation restoration on spatial heterogeneity of soil properties. The results showed that soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, very fine sand (0.1–0.05 mm) content and their coefficients of variation were lower in GSD5 than in RSD20, while soil water contents (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm depths) were higher in GSD5 than in RSD20. Geostatistical analysis revealed that the spatial structured variance accounted for the largest proportion of total sample variance in soil properties at the measured scale under grazing and restoration. The spatial autocorrelation ranges were 66.30 m for soil organic carbon and 50.80 m for total nitrogen in GSD5 less than those in RSD20 (70.00 m and 76.10 m, respectively), while the spatial autocorrelation ranges of soil particle size fractions and soil water contents in RSD20 were less than those in GSD5. Kriging-interpolated maps also showed that the heterogeneity of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen and their degree of patch fragmentation were higher in GSD5 than in RSD20. These results suggested that continuous grazing resulted in an increase in spatial variability of soil nutrient and a decrease in spatial variability of soil particle size fractions and soil water content. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen of sand dunes are associated closely with soil particle size fractions, relative height of sampling site and vegetation cover. Spatial patterns of soil properties are most strongly related to grazing, topography and plant-induced heterogeneity in sand dune ecosystems prone to wind erosion.     

Plant and Bird Community Dynamics in Mixed-Grass Prairie Grazed by Native and Domestic Herbivores

Native colonial and large ungulate herbivores infrequently coexist on contemporary landscapes but frequently would have in the past, and understanding these interactions is important for conservation in working landscapes—those lands managed for biological and economic objectives. Although many factors contribute to grassland bird declines, consistent and long-term removal of native herbivores from western grasslands promotes homogenous landscapes that are now uniformly grazed by cattle (Bos taurus). This shift in grassland disturbance patterns limits habitat availability for specialized grassland species. We investigated vegetation and bird community dynamics in pastures grazed by domestic cattle and a native colonial herbivore, the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus). The study occurred in the northern mixed-grass prairie of the United States on four experimental pastures stratified by the proportion of prairie dog occupancy to create an ecological gradient. Vegetation and bird surveys were conducted from 2012 to 2015 on and off prairie dog colonies. Vegetation and bird communities were not different along the experimental pasture gradient but did differ relative to location on versus off town. Prairie dogs induced changes in the plant community with midstatured grasses like side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and green needlegrass (Nassella viridula) being associated with off-colony sites while on-colony sites were associated with disturbance-tolerant species such as fetid marigold (Dyssodia papposa). The bird community responded to changes in vegetation structure resulting from prairie dogs with grasshopper sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) being more abundant off colonies in areas with greater vegetation structure, while bird species with more complex life histories, such as the upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), were associated with both on ? and off ? prairie dog colonies. Our findings demonstrate the importance of maintaining spatial heterogeneity in working landscapes and show that native colonial herbivores can help achieve this in the presence of herbivory by domestic cattle.     

Adjusting for heterogeneity of variance for carcass traits affects single and multiple trait selections in genetic evaluation of Japanese Black cattle

Heterogeneity of variance among subclasses of an effect is a potential source of bias in genetic evaluation. Degrees of the heterogeneity of variance among farm‐market‐year‐sex (FMYS) subclasses for carcass weight, beef marbling standard number, rib‐eye area, rib thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness were investigated in Japanese Black cattle. Consequences of adjusting for the heterogeneity on the predicted breeding values (PBVs) or on the genetic indexes derived from the PBVs of the five carcass traits were assessed. A total of 57 461 records were collected between 1997 and 2002 from steers and heifers fattened at farms across Japan. These records were grouped into 1591 FMYS subclasses. Bartlett's test showed that the degree of the heterogeneity of variance among the FMYS subclasses was sizeable in all traits (P < 0.0001). By applying a two‐step adjustment procedure it was possible to reduce the standard deviation, the coefficient of variation and the Gini coefficient of the phenotypic variances by 67.5% to 75.0% in the different traits. The applied adjustment caused a substantial re‐ranking of elite dams in the PBV for each trait as well as in the genetic index. This study provided evidence that the applied adjustment reduces the bias in the PBVs due to heterogeneous variances and increases the accuracy of bull‐dam selection.     

景观空间异质性对生态系统服务的影响

景观空间异质性是一个景观生态学的概念,其会对生态系统服务产生巨大影响,而生态系统服务会随着景观格局的改变而改变。景观空间异质性可划分为景观组成异质性与景观构型异质性。这两方面对生态系统服务的影响机制和内容有所不同。目前很多学者都是对“景观格局—生态系统服务对应关系,或者生态系统过程—生态系统服务对应关系”进行研究,缺乏将景观格局、生态系统过程与生态系统服务三者结合起来,并关注三者变化与相互关系的研究。关于景观异质性是通过何种途径影响生态系统服务的,目前的研究还不够深入。通过总结国内外的有关文献,简述景观空间异质性是如何通过直接和间接作用影响生态系统服务,以期为提高生态系统服务、实现可持续发展以及制定生态保护政策提供科学依据。     

不同放牧强度下羊草十大针茅草地植被与土壤氮素的空间异质性分析

以河北坝上的羊草(Leymus chinensis)+大针茅(Stipa grandis)典型草原为研究对象,用方差和地统计分析相结合的方法,研究了不同放牧强度对植被和土壤氮素的空间分布格局的影响.结果表明,植被密度与土壤氮素的变异函数大多符合球状和指数模型;轻牧与中牧的植被群落密度的空间分布受随机因素的影响较大,禁牧与重牧地受空间结构性因素影响较大,但重牧区土壤氮素的空间分布受随机因素影响相对较大;放牧降低了植被密度的空间异质性,而禁牧区的空间异质性(基台值0.116 8)大于放牧区(基台值均值0.019 5);随放牧强度的增加,土壤铵态氮、硝态氮的空间异质性均呈降低-增加的趋势,且重牧明显增加了土壤铵态氮和硝态氮的空间异质性,基台值分别为5.642 0和2.681 0,大于其余3个处理铵态氮和硝态氮的均值(0.315 8和0.168 7);整体上,在相同放牧处理的植被密度与土壤硝态氮的空间分布有相近的变化趋势.     

陕北黄土丘陵区撂荒演替中期群落比较异质性研究

对陕北黄土丘陵区撂荒演替中期6块样地进行了群落间异质性和群落异质性分析。结果表明,群落间异质性与环境因素差异多数为正相关,说明环境对撂荒演替中期群落组成与结构起到了一定的塑造作用,典型相关分析进一步表明群落间异质性有84.6%是由环境差异引起的,其中土壤全磷含量与群落间组成异质性、土壤水分与群落结构异质性有较强的正相关关系,说明土壤磷营养对撂荒演替中期群落组成有较大的影响,而土壤水分是影响植物生长和群落结构的重要因素,因此在对撂荒7~15年的耕地进行恢复与重建应注意磷肥的施用和节水、保水措施。     

新疆包头湖灌区农田土壤水盐热特性空间变异特征

土壤作为高度变异体,其大尺度下的土壤水盐热分布特征具有空间变异性。为了探究大尺度下的土壤水、盐、热的空间分布特征及空间变异性,以新疆包头湖区域为例,采用经典统计学和地统计学相结合的方法,对土壤水盐热参数的空间分布特征进行分析。结果表明:土壤含水率、导热率及热容量均属于中等偏弱变异程度,土壤含盐量为强变异程度;土壤含水率、含盐量、导热率的半方差函数均可用高斯模型进行拟合,热容量的半方差函数可用指数函数进行拟合;含水率、含盐量、导热率、热容量同一深度各自变量之间均具有较强的空间依赖性,随机因素占总变异程度较低,最大相关距离在2 600~3 900 m。该研究为当地农业灌溉及精细农业的生产提供一定参考。     

东北平原典型玉米种植区农业景观植物多样性研究——以昌图县为例

非耕作生境是农业景观中的重要组成部分,为生物提供食物和栖息地,对生物多样性保护具有重要意义。本文以辽宁省昌图县为例,选取了20个非耕作生境比例为0~50%的网格(1 km?1 km)为样区,采用典型样地法对调查区域内农业景观中的林地、田间路、草地、沟渠、果园5类主要非耕作生境中的植物群落进行调查,探讨不同非耕作生境类型和比例中植物多样性及其与景观异质性之间的关系。研究结果表明,随着非耕作生境比例增加,植物物种多样性和均匀度先增加后减小,在20%~30%时达到峰值;非耕作生境比例在0~40%范围内时,植物物种丰富度同样呈现先增加后减小,且在20%~30%时达到峰值;非耕作生境比例高于40%时,植物物种丰富度再次出现峰值且高于20%~30%。随着非耕作生境比例的增加,农业景观香浓多样性、香浓均匀度指数和景观斑块形状复杂程度逐渐增加,蔓延度恰好相反。不同生境中重要值最高的均为禾本科植物,但植物种不同;优势种优势度为果园沟渠草地田间路林地。果园、草地和沟渠的物种多样性和均匀度指数显著高于林地和田间路,丰富度指数为草地林地沟渠果园田间路,且草地、果园和田间路的不同调查区域间植物群落指数存在较大的变异性。草地、果园、沟渠、田间路和林地中景观异质性与物种多样性相关性顺次降低。研究结论表明,东北平原典型玉米种植区农业景观中,最适宜非耕作生境比例为20%~30%;非耕作生境中林地、沟渠对物种多样性维持、湿生植物多样性保护具有积极作用;不同生境干扰类型和方式不同,景观异质性与植物物种多样性相关性程度也不同。在今后农业景观生物多样性保护中应综合考虑非耕作生境的类型和比例,干扰的类型和方式等多种因素对生物多样性、生态服务及农业产量的影响。     

抑菌剂浇施与不均匀施肥对玉米马铃薯生长和产量的影响

农业生产中,肥料和抑菌性农药施用是两种重要的农业生产技术。在施肥过程中,点状和条状施肥是主要的施肥方式,易导致作物生长期内土壤养分以斑块状分布,因此根系趋肥性对农田中作物获取养分具有重要性。而在施用抑菌性农药时,药剂能够通过淋溶等过程进入土体中,对土壤生态环境和根-土过程产生直接或间接的影响。然而目前有关农药施用是否影响作物根系趋肥性,进而改变产量表现还不清楚。本研究选用旱地主要粮食作物玉米和马铃薯为研究对象,通过等量肥料下隔行施用的方式构建土壤养分斑块,在此基础上进行广谱性杀菌剂浇施土壤,研究抑菌性农药对作物利用异质性养分的影响。两年的大田试验数据表明,一定程度上,抑菌剂浇施和隔行施肥能够显著地影响作物的植株生物量、产量,根系生物量及分布,且对玉米生物量影响具显著交互效应,表现为隔行施肥对生物量的显著提高发生在抑菌剂浇施条件下,而抑菌剂对玉米生物量的提高则主要表现在隔行施肥条件下。同时,抑菌剂浇施能够提高作物的根系觅养精确度,其中在马铃薯上达到显著水平,表明抑菌剂浇施对作物适应土壤养分斑块具有一定的促进作用。当然,抑菌农药和养分斑块在影响作物生长过程中的显著性受作物类型和种植年份的影响,具有复杂性。因此,进一步针对不同作物、生态环境和栽培措施,探讨抑菌剂农药在作物适应养分斑块中的作用以及对作物根系趋肥的影响机制,对于了解农药施用对化肥利用的影响具有潜在的价值。     

6-9月秘鲁外海茎柔鱼资源的空间异质性研究

根据2003-2012年6-9月(2005年数据缺失)秘鲁外海茎柔鱼渔获数据,利用全局和局部自相关性分析,结合半变异函数模型,探讨秘鲁外海茎柔鱼资源分布的异质性特点,并寻找影响茎柔鱼空间分布的关键环境因子。研究认为:(1)全局自相关统计量Moran’s I和局部自相关统计量Getis-Ord Gi*的Z得分结果显示,秘鲁外海茎柔鱼呈斑块状中等程度的聚集分布,7月份的聚集性强;(2)趋势性分析认为,6-9月茎柔鱼资源在南北方向上基本都呈现出南低北高的变化趋势,而东西方向上均呈现出中间高两端低的分布趋势;(3)6、8月份的最优模型为高斯模型,7月份的最优模型为球状模型,9月份的最优模型为指数模型,6-9月份的块金系数分别为41.33%、24.66%、25.89%和35.42%,其反映了中等程度自相关性,与全局自相关的分析结果一致;(4)相关性检验认为,秘鲁外海茎柔鱼资源局部聚集分布主要是受到海表面高度的影响。对秘鲁外海茎柔鱼资源分布空间异质性的研究,对揭示其栖息地分布及其生态学意义具有一定的作用。