Different Root and Shoot Responses to Mowing and Fertility in Native and Invaded Grassland

Grassland root responses to mowing and fertility are less well known than shoot responses, even though as much as 90% of productivity in semiarid grasslands occurs belowground. Thus, understanding root responses may aid the management of invasive grassland species such as Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaerth (crested wheatgrass). We asked whether root responses reflect shoot responses to mowing and fertility in native grassland with and without a major component of crested wheatgrass. We subjected grasslands in northern Montana to 5 yr of mowing at two nitrogen (N) levels and followed root responses with minirhizotrons. Surprisingly, the roots of both native and invaded grasslands were unaffected by mowing and N addition, despite significant changes in shoot mass across both vegetation types. Root length was significantly greater beneath areas heavily occupied by crested wheatgrass (363 m · m^-2 image ± 200, mean ± standard deviation [SD]) than areas comprising largely native grassland (168 m · m^-2 image ± 128 SD). Also, no interactions occurred between year and any other factor, indicating that there were no changes in belowground responses over the 5 yr examined. In contrast, shoot mass was significantly reduced by mowing (not mowed, 612 g · m^-2 ± 235 SD; mowed, 239 g · m^-2 ± 81 SD) and was significantly increased by N addition (no added N, 380 g · m^-2 ± 215 SD; added N, 488 g · m^-2 ± 287 SD). In conclusion, 5 yr of mowing decreased shoot mass, but not root mass. On the other hand, 5 yr of N addition increased shoot mass, but not root mass. Given that most production and competition in grasslands occurs belowground, this suggests that mowing may not be a successful tool for reducing crested wheatgrass root length, regardless of soil fertility.     

短花针茅荒漠草原不同载畜率的土壤呼吸与植物地下生物量的关系

本文运用开路式土壤碳通量测量系统-LI-8100在短花针茅(Stipa breviflora Griseb)荒漠草原测定4组不同载畜率的土壤呼吸速率动态,并用土钻法测定了植物地下累积生物量,埋根袋法测定了根系净生长量。目的是比较不同载畜率对土壤呼吸、植物地下累积生物量和根系净生长量的影响,并探讨生长季土壤呼吸、8月份土壤呼吸对植物地下累积生物量、根系净生长量的响应。结果表明:随着载畜率增加,植物地下累积生物量减少,根系生长减缓,但对土壤呼吸无显著影响;生长季土壤呼吸与植物地下累积生物量呈线性正相关,8月份土壤呼吸值随根系净生长量增大而增大。土壤呼吸受植物地下生物量影响显著,生长季初期,新根刚开始生长,土壤呼吸大部分来自老根,到了生长旺季,新根生物量增多,土壤呼吸速率加快,新根主导了土壤呼吸。     

Linkages Between Riparian Characteristics,Ungulate Grazing,and Geomorphology and Nutrient Cycling in Montane Grassland Streams

Catchment characteristics and disturbances control the conditions and processes found in stream ecosystems. We examined nutrient cycling linkages between riparian soils and adjacent streams and the impacts of the removal of ungulate grazing on these ecosystems and processes at six grazing exclosure sites in the Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM, USA. The exclusion of native and domestic ungulate grazers for 3 yr significantly increased the riparian aboveground biomass of standing vegetation (273 ± 155 in grazed vs. 400 ± 178 g ^. m^-2 in exclosures) and litter (58 ± 75 in grazed vs. 110 ± 76 g ^. m^-2 in exclosures) (P = 0.003 and 0.006, respectively). Except for an increase in total soil phosphorous (P) at three of the six sites, soil nutrient values were minimally affected by grazing after five growing seasons. Within the six sites studied, no connection was found between 0–15-cm depth soils, which were P-limited based on stoichiometric ratios, and stream nutrient availability or limitation, which were nitrogen limited. Stream geomorphology was not significantly altered by 5 yr of grazing exclusion. The elimination of grazing suppressed instream nutrient processing with significantly longer NH₄ uptake lengths (P = 0.003). These results suggest the exclusion of ungulate grazing impacts terrestrial characteristics (increased standing vegetative biomass) that are linked to ecosystem services provided by adjacent aquatic ecosystems (reduced N-uptake). Management plans should carefully balance the positive effect of grazing on stream nutrient processing and retention reported here with the well-documented grazing-related loss of other ecosystem services such as decreased fish and aquatic invertebrate habitat and effects on water-quality parameters such as turbidity and water temperature.     

不同坪床配比百慕大T-419的生物量和根系分布特征研究

本试验采用9种不同的坪床配比,对热带亚热带运动场常用品种百慕大T-419的生物量和根系分布特征进行了研究。结果表明,各处理的地上与地下生物量变化基本一致,中等含沙量的处理Ⅲ和Ⅶ的地上与地下生物量最高。不同处理的根系分布随土壤深度的增加而减少,集中分布于0~10 cm土层,方差分析表明,0~10 cm土层各处理间根系生物量差异显著,其中处理Ⅲ、Ⅵ和Ⅶ显著高于处理Ⅰ和对照CK,10~20和20 cm以下的生物量均无显著差异。地下总生物量与总根长相关系数为0.541(P＜0.05),与根系表面积、根系体积相关系数分别为0.651和0.615(P＜0.01);根尖数与总根长、平均直径相关系数分别为0.500和0.695(P＜0.01)。     

放牧对赖草群落生物量及植物多样性的影响

通过对围封5年与自由放牧的赖草（Leymus secalinus）群落进行整个生长季的生物量和物种多样性动态观测,旨在了解放牧对赖草群落的影响。结果表明：整个生长季围栏内外赖草始终占据主导地位,放牧样地物种丰富度指数显著高于围封样地（P<0.05）,多样性指数和均匀度指数在不同时期变化趋势不同;赖草群落地上生物量、高度、盖度、物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度指数在整个生长季均表现为先增加后降低,放牧显著降低群落地上生物量（P<0.05）,在整个生长季放牧使群落盖度平均降低31.82%,群落高度平均降低36.37 cm;围封样地群落地下生物量在7月和9月出现2个峰值,分别为4148.4 和4359.27 g·m^-2,放牧样地地下生物量在8月达到最大,为2559.28 g·m^-2;群落地下生物量随土层深度的增加所占比例逐渐减小,其中围封和放牧样地0~30 cm土层所占比例分别为75.64%和77.37%。适度放牧有利于促进赖草群落的物种多样性,不合理放牧降低草地植物群落的盖度、高度和生物量,因此围栏封育能够促进赖草草地的稳定和可持续发展。     

Biomass Production and Net Ecosystem Exchange Following Defoliation in a Wet Sedge Community

Riparian ecosystems provide many ecosystem services, including serving as an important forage resource for livestock grazing operations. We evaluated defoliation impacts on above- and belowground production, and net ecosystem exchange of CO₂ (NEE), in a wet sedge (Carex nebrascensis Dewey)-dominated plant community. In June or July of 2004–2005, experimental plots were clipped to 10 cm stubble height and paired control plots left unclipped. All plots were clipped to 2.5 cm in mid-September, and end-of-season and season-long aboveground production calculated. Root ingrowth cores were used to estimate annual root production and root length density (RLD). A portable gas exchange system and plexiglass chamber were used to measure NEE in 2005. An elevated water table in 2005 vs. 2004 was associated with higher (P &spilt; 0.001) season-long aboveground production (about double), but lower (P ≤ 0.05) belowground production (about half). Total productivity did not differ between years, but below-:aboveground ratios were 3× higher in 2004 vs. 2005. RLD was not different between years (P &spigt; 0.05). Clipping reduced (P ≤ 0.05) end-of-season aboveground standing crop by 33% to 73% depending on clipping month and year. Effects of clipping month on season-long aboveground production were inconsistent between years; June clipping decreased (P ≤ 0.05) production (-10%) in 2005 and July clipping decreased (P ≤ 0.05) production (-25%) in 2004. NEE for June-clipped plots recovered within 1 mo of clipping, whereas NEE for plots clipped in July remained below unclipped levels at the end of the growing season. Water table levels strongly influenced below-:aboveground ratios, although total production was relatively stable between years. Year effects overwhelmed clipping effects on season-long aboveground production. Defoliation after mid-summer did not allow recovery of photosynthetic capacity by the end of the growing season, suggesting the potential for long-term impact with regular late-season defoliation.     

放牧对呼伦贝尔羊草草甸草原生物量分布的影响

本研究以羊草（Leymus chinensis）草甸草原（基于呼伦贝尔草原生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站）为研究对象,通过测算2013年和2014年植物群落地上和地下生物量在不同放牧强度（不放牧、轻度放牧、中度放牧、重度放牧）下的变化,探究不同放牧强度对植物群落地上、地下生物量分布的影响。研究结果显示,群落地上生物量随放牧强度增加而减少,从不放牧的238.14 g·m^-2减少至重度放牧的79.60 g·m^-2;杂类草地上生物量所占比例增加,由不放牧的35.93%增加至重度放牧的97.66%。群落地下生物量随放牧强度增加呈先降低后增加的趋势,中度放牧时最小（2013年733.25 g·m^-2、2014年682.99 g·m^-2）;轻度放牧下,群落地下生物量在0~10 cm土层分布比例最大,2013年为61.86%,2014年为64.43%。综上可得出,放牧会引起植物群落地上、地下生物量分布发生变化,轻度或中度放牧利用该区域草地比较合理。     

沙地植物根系特征及其与土壤有机碳和总氮的关系

以位于风沙活动剧烈的科尔沁沙地为研究区,通过对不同恢复阶段的流动沙丘、半固定沙丘、固定沙丘和封育草地4种生境的植物特征和土壤总有机碳(SOC)和总氮(TN)含量进行调查,分析了沙地不同恢复阶段土壤碳氮特征与植物的关系。结果表明,1)植物地上和地下生物量的变化随沙地恢复过程呈现不同的特征,地上生物量随沙地恢复表现为先增加后减小的趋势,地下生物量则为指数增加的特征,封育草地植物的根冠比显著高于其他恢复阶段;2)与生物量类似,根系长度和根表面积均随沙地恢复逐渐增加,生境间差异极显著,而根体积虽存在生境间差异,但随沙地恢复梯度的规律性不明显;3)SOC和TN的含量与储量均随沙地恢复逐渐增加,0~10 cm层SOC和TN含量高于10~20 cm层,但随沙地恢复过程,10~20 cm层的增幅高于0~10 cm层;4)地上生物量和地下生物量均与SOC和TN储量呈显著的线性回归关系,地下生物量与SOC和TN储量的回归系数均高于地上生物量;5)根系长度和根表面积与土壤碳氮的回归系数均高于生物量和体积。本研究表明,在风沙活动剧烈的沙地生境,植物根系与土壤碳氮的关系较地上部分更为紧密,根系活动可能是影响土壤碳氮积累的重要因素之一。     

金马河温江段河岸带不同生境草本群落物种多样性和生物量变化研究

本研究以金马河温江段河岸带植被为研究对象，采用典型样地法对5种生境（河滩地、砾石地、芦苇地、斑茅地和沙坑地）进行调查，分析其3年来（2015-2018年）植被群落特征变化。结果表明：从时间尺度上看，2015年仅有草本层32科80属113种，2018年草本、灌木层共计57科118属161种，各生境草本层优势种变动较小，物种多样性指数值增大，地上、地下生物量变化情况为河滩地和沙坑地增加，砾石地和芦苇地变化不明显，斑茅地减少；从空间尺度上看，2015年各生境之间的物种多样性指数和地上生物量均不存在显著差异，而2018年各生境间变异程度复杂；该段河岸带3年间取得了一定程度的生态恢复效果，但芦苇（Phragmites australis）、葎草（Humulus scandens）呈扩张趋势，需要注意控制生长，维持生境物种多样性。     

Fire and Nitrogen Effects on Purple Threeawn (Aristida purpurea) Abundance in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie Old Fields

Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea Nutt. varieties) is a native grass capable of increasing on rangelands, forming near monocultures, and creating a stable state. Productive rangelands throughout the Great Plains and Intermountain West have experienced increases in purple threeawn abundance, reducing overall forage quality. Our objectives were to 1) reveal the effects of prescribed fire and nitrogen amendments on purple threeawn abundance and 2) assess nontarget plant response posttreatment. Season of fire (no fire, summer fire, fall fire) and nitrogen addition (0 kg N · ha^?1, 46 kg N · ha^?1, and 80 kg N · ha^?1) were factorially arranged in a completely randomized design and applied to two similar sites in southeastern Montana. We evaluated fire and nitrogen effects on purple threeawn basal cover, relative composition, and current-year biomass one growing season postfire at two sites treated during different years. Spring weather following fire treatments was very different between years and subsequently impacted community response. Initial purple threeawn biomass at both sites was 1 214 ± 46 kg · ha^?1 SEc. When postfire growing conditions were wet, current-year biomass of purple threeawn was reduced 90% and 73% with summer and fall fire, respectively. Under dry postfire growing conditions, purple threeawn current-year biomass was reduced 73% and 58% with summer and fall fire, respectively. Nitrogen additions had no effect on purple threeawn current-year biomass at either site. Current-year biomass of C₃ perennial grass doubled with nitrogen additions and was not impacted by fire during a wet spring. Nitrogen additions and fire had no effect on C₃ perennial grass current-year biomass following a dry spring. Prescribed fire appears to be a highly effective tool for reducing purple threeawn abundance on semiarid rangelands, with limited detrimental impacts to nontarget species.     

Estimating Aboveground Net Primary Production in Grasslands: A Comparison of Nondestructive Methods

Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) is an important ecosystem property that is affected by environmental variability. ANPP in grasslands is typically measured by clipping peak live plant material. However, this method is time intensive (and therefore expensive), making it difficult to capture spatial and temporal variability. Additionally, it is impractical to use a destructive method to estimate ANPP in long-term, permanent plots. Thus, many double-sampling techniques have been developed to reduce costs and increase sample size. The objective of our study was to assess the accuracy and precision of nondestructive techniques to estimate ANPP as supplements to the traditional method of peak biomass harvest at two grassland sites. We harvested biomass and compared estimates from the same plots to 1) canopy interception using a point frame, 2) green cover estimates derived from a digital camera, and 3) reflectance measurements using a handheld radiometer. We calculated the optimum allocation of sampling effort to direct and indirect methods to minimize sampling cost yet achieve a desired precision. We found that the point frame technique explained the highest proportion of the variability in biomass at both sites (R² = 0.91, 0.90). However, our cost-optimization analysis revealed that the radiometer technique, although less accurate (R² = 0.38, 0.51), could achieve a desired precision for lower labor costs than the point frame. The radiometer and point frame methods will be a useful tool for grassland ecologists and rangeland managers who desire fast, nondestructive estimates of ANPP.     

Transition From Sagebrush Steppe to Annual Grass (Bromus tectorum): Influence on Belowground Carbon and Nitrogen

Vegetation changes associated with climate shifts and anthropogenic disturbance have major impacts on biogeochemical cycling. Much of the interior western United States currently is dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) ecosystems. At low to intermediate elevations, sagebrush ecosystems increasingly are influenced by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) invasion. Little currently is known about the distribution of belowground organic carbon (OC) on these changing landscapes, how annual grass invasion affects OC pools, or the role that nitrogen (N) plays in carbon (C) retention. As part of a Joint Fire Sciences-funded project called the Sagebrush Treatment Evaluation Project (SageSTEP), we quantified the depth distribution of soil OC and N at seven sites experiencing cheatgrass invasion. We sampled plots that retained sagebrush, but represented a continuum of cheatgrass invasion into the understory. Eighty-four soil cores were taken using a mechanically driven diamond-tipped core drill to a depth of 90 cm, or until bedrock or a restrictive layer was encountered. Samples were taken in 15-cm increments, and soil, rocks, and roots were analyzed for OC and total N. We determined that cheatgrass influences the vertical distribution of OC and N within the soil profile and might result in decreased soil OC content below 60  cm. We also found that OC and total N associated with coarse fragments accounted for at least 10% of belowground pools. This emphasizes the need for researchers to quantify nutrients in deep soil horizons and coarse fragments.     

Evaluation of Low-Stress Herding and Supplement Placement for Managing Cattle Grazing in Riparian and Upland Areas

Management practices are often needed to ensure that riparian areas are not heavily grazed by livestock. A study was conducted in Montana during midsummer to evaluate the efficacy of low-stress herding and supplement placement to manage cattle grazing in riparian areas. Three treatments were evaluated in three pastures over a 3-yr period in a Latin-square design (n = 9). Each year, naïve 2-yr-old cows with calves were randomly assigned to the three treatments: 1) free-roaming control, 2) herding from perennial streams to upland target areas, and 3) herding to upland sites with low-moisture block supplements. Stubble heights along the focal stream were higher (P = 0.07) in pastures when cattle were herded (mean ± SE, 23 ± 2 cm) than in controls (15 ± 3 cm). Global positioning system telemetry data showed that herding reduced the time cows spent near (< 100 m) perennial streams (P = 0.01) and increased the use of higher elevations (P = 0.07) compared with controls. Evening visual observations provided some evidence that free-roaming cows (44% ± 19%) were in riparian areas more frequently (P = 0.11) than herded cows (23% ± 6%). Fecal abundance along the focal stream was less (P = 0.07) with herding (61.9 ±  kg · ha⁻¹) than in controls (113.2 ±  kg · ha⁻¹). Forage utilization within 600 m of supplement sites was greater (P = 0.06) when cows were herded to low-moisture blocks (18% ± 6%) compared with controls and herding alone (8% ± 2%). Moving cattle to uplands at midday using low-stress herding is an effective tool to reduce use of riparian areas. Herding cattle to low-moisture blocks can increase grazing of nearby upland forage but may not provide additional reduction in cattle use of riparian areas compared with herding alone.     

Abiotic and herbaceous vegetational characteristics of an arid rangeland in Kenya

A two-year study was conducted with an overall objective of characterising the structure and function of an arid rangeland in Kenya. A plot measuring 100 × 100m was used for this study. Data on rainfall and temperature were recorded at the plot site whereas data on evaporation rates and relative humidity were obtained from the meteorological office near the study site.

Herbaceous aboveground material was sampled at monthly intervals using a rectangular 0.25m² quadrat frame. Clipped material was separated by species and classified dead or live by physical examination. A 5cm diameter metal soil corer was used to sample belowground plant material, at monthly intervals. The sampled material was washed with running water over 2mm sieves and classified dead or live using the vital staining technique. All weights and calculations were based on organic weight.

Total aboveground standing crop ranged from 84.6g m^?2 to 295.4g m^?2, with a mean of 162.3 ± 60.6g m^?2. Mean monthly aboveground standing crop for 1992 and 1993 was 142.8 ± 53.8 and 178.5 ± 63.3g m^?2 respectively. The two values were significantly different (p<0.10). Aboveground biomass yield ranged from 17.7g m^?2 to 242.7g m^?2, with a mean of 104.3 ± 58g m^?2 and a coefficient of variation of 58%. Mean aboveground standing crop was 59 ± 24g m^?2 Monthly values ranged from 28.8g m^?2 to 120g m^?2, with a 38% coefficient of variation.

The range for total belowground standing crop was from 83.3g m^?2 to 232.7g m^?2, and a mean of 155.2 ± 46g m^?2. The values had a coefficient of variation of 30%. Mean total monthly belowground plant material yield for 1992 and 1993 was 137.6 ± 41g m^?2 and 169.9 ± 46g m^?2 The coefficients of variation were 59% and 28% respectively. The mean monthly belowground biomass yield was 51.6 ± 33g m^?2 with a coefficient of variation of 64%. Mean monthly yield for belowground dead material was 103.7 ± 32g m^?2, with a coefficient of variation of 31%. There was no significant difference (p>0.01) in the mean belowground dead material yield between 1992 and 1993.

In 1992, annual NPP was 439.2g m^?2, giving a net primary productivity of 1.22g m^?2day^?l. Monthly NPP ranged from 17.2g m^?2 to 90.1g m^?2 In 1993, annual NPP was 944.5g m^?2, equivalent to a net primary productivity of 2.62g m^?2 day^?1. Monthly NPP was between 27.4g m^?2 and 548.6g m^?2. Over the 1992–1993 period, NPP was 1 383.7g m^?2, equivalent to a productivity of 1.92g m^?2day^?1. Trends in monthly NPP closely followed the trend in rainfall. On the whole, herbaceous vegetation production and productivity were episodic in nature and closely linked to rainfall. The high primary productivity puts arid and semi-arid rangelands under sharp focus as CO₂ sinks, whose role in the amelioration of greenhouse effect could be more important than is currently appreciated.     

Carbon Stocks and Fluxes in Rangelands of the Río de la Plata Basin

Grasslands are one of the most modified biomes on Earth. Land use changes had a large impact on carbon (C) stocks of grasslands. Understanding the impact of land use/land cover changes on C stocks and fluxes is critical to evaluate the potential of rangeland ecosystem as C sinks. In this article we analyze C stocks and fluxes across the environmental gradients of one of the most extensive temperate rangeland areas: the Río de la Plata Grasslands (RPG) in South America. The analysis summarizes information provided by field studies, remote sensing estimates, and modeling exercises. Average estimates of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) ranged from 240 to 316 g C· m^?2·yr^?1. Estimates of belowground NPP (BNPP) were more variable than ANPP and ranged from 264 to 568 g C· m^?2·yr^?1. Total Carbon ranged from 5 004 to 15 008 g C· m^?2. Plant biomass contribution to Total Carbon averaged 13% and varied from 9.5% to 27% among sites. The largest plant C stock corresponded to belowground biomass. Aboveground green biomass represented less than 7% of the plant C. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was concentrated in the slow and passive compartments of the organic matter. Active soil pool represented only 6.7% of the SOC. The understanding of C dynamics and stocks in the RPG grasslands is still partial and incomplete. Field estimates of ANPP and BNPP are scarce, and they are not based on a common measurement protocol. Remotely sensed techniques have the potential to generate a coherent and spatially explicit database on ANPP. However, more work is needed to improve estimates of the spatial and temporal variability of radiation use efficiency. The absence of a flux tower network restricts the ability to track seasonal changes in C uptake and to understand fine-scale controls of C dynamics.     

Interannual Herbaceous Biomass Response to Increasing Honey Mesquite Cover on Two Soils

This study quantified herbaceous biomass responses to increases in honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) cover on two soils from 1995 to 2001 in north central Texas. Vegetation was sampled randomly with levels of mesquite ranging from 0% to 100%. With no mesquite covering the silt loam soils of bottomland sites, peak herbaceous biomass averaged (±SE) 3 300 ± 210 kg · ha⁻¹ vs. 2 560 ± 190 kg · ha⁻¹ on clay loam soils of upland sites (P = 0.001). A linear decline of 14 ± 2.5 kg · ha⁻¹ in herbaceous biomass occurred for each percent increase in mesquite cover (P = 0.001). The slope of this decline was similar between soils (P = 0.135). Herbaceous biomass with increasing mesquite cover varied between years (P = 0.001) as did the slope of decline (P = 0.001). Warm-season herbaceous biomass decreased linearly with increasing mesquite cover averaging a 73 ± 15% reduction at 100% mesquite cover (P = 0.001) compared to 0% mesquite cover. Cool-season herbaceous biomass was similar between soils with no mesquite, 1 070 ± 144 kg · ha⁻¹ for silt loam vs. 930 ± 140 kg · ha⁻¹ for clay loam soils, but averaged 340 ± 174 kg · ha⁻¹ more on silt loam than on clay loam soils at 100% mesquite cover (P = 0.004). Multiple regression analysis indicated that each centimeter of precipitation received from the previous October through the current September produced herbaceous biomass of 51 kg · ha⁻¹ on silt loam and 41 kg · ha⁻¹ on clay loam soils. Herbaceous biomass decreased proportionally with increasing mesquite cover up to 29 kg · ha⁻¹ at 100% mesquite cover for each centimeter of precipitation received from January through September. Increasing mesquite cover reduces livestock forage productivity and intensifies drought effects by increasing annual herbaceous biomass variability. From a forage production perspective there is little advantage to having mesquite present.     

青藏苔草形态特征及生物量分配沿水分梯度的变化

为分析湿地植物形态与生物量可塑性对土壤含水率的响应,本文以青藏苔草(Carex moorcrof tii)为研究对象,沿土壤水分梯度设置样地,分析根、茎、叶形态及生物量的变化.结果表明:随土壤含水率降低,叶片数量、残存叶基数量、茎基直径、根状茎长度和分蘖芽数量均增加,而叶长、分蘖芽和根状茎直径减小;根系表面积、根系平均...     

根系生态位差异对生态系统的影响

根系对于植物、群落及生态系统都具有重要的作用,同样外界环境也会对植物产生影响,二者相互作用。拥有较高植物多样性的群落,其根系生态位差异对整个群落的生物量、根系分布、土壤结构及营养资源分配均会产生不同程度的影响,而这些影响会决定群落的物种共存和生态稳定等情况,本文对国内外与根系相关的文献进行总结后得出:1)物种多样性较高的群落其生产力较高,且随着物种丰富度的增加,群落生物量的增加与深根植物根系生物量的增加关系更加密切;2)物种丰富度不同的群落会导致植物根系生态位垂直分布,因此根系分泌物及根系性状会影响土壤团聚体等结构特征和养分利用情况,达到改善土壤营养的目的,同时浅、深根系物种有利于物种共存和更好地利用土壤资源;3)根系的互补和选择效应均会对生态系统产生作用,且随着物种多样性的增加,互补效应增强,选择效应降低,互补效应被认为是增大资源利用率的关键,同时发现互补效应会受到群落中特定物种和竞争之间相互作用的影响。本文简要概述了根系对陆地生态系统的相关影响,并对根系研究做一定的展望,指出了根系生态学研究两点值得关注的内容,包括:1)群落对垂直分布的地下根系性状变化的影响还有待进一步验证、明确;2)由于根系采样较难,今后的研究要多与现代分子技术和影像技术相结合,更好展示地下根系状态。     

青海省海北地区高寒草甸群落特征和生物量对短期休牧的响应

为揭示高寒草甸植被群落特征和生物量对短期休牧的响应,为高寒草甸合理利用提供依据,于2017年9月上旬采用样方法对青海省海北州门源县的连续放牧、生长季休牧和禁牧1年的高寒草甸样地进行调查、取样和分析,研究了短期休牧对高寒草甸植被群落结构和地上/地下生物量的影响。结果表明:1)生长季休牧和禁牧1年较连续放牧极显著提高了高寒草甸的群落高度、群落盖度和样方物种丰富度(P<0.01),极显著提高了异针茅、矮嵩草、异叶米口袋和青海苜蓿等代表性牧草高度(P<0.01);2)生长季休牧和禁牧1年较连续放牧极显著提高了枯落物量和半腐殖质量(P<0.01),极显著提高了禾本科、豆科和阔叶类植物生物量(P<0.01),极显著提高了总地上生物量和优质牧草产量(P<0.01);3)生长季休牧和禁牧1年较连续放牧极显著提高了表层地下生物量(0~10 cm)和总地下生物量(0~30 cm)(P<0.01)。对于青海海北地区的未退化高寒草甸,可以采用短期休牧技术优化其群落结构,提高生物量和优质牧草产量,促进天然草地资源合理利用。     

Reproductive Effort and Seed Establishment in Grazed Tussock Grass Populations of Patagonia

The importance of sexual reproduction in tussock grasses that regenerate through vegetative growth is unclear. Festuca gracillima Hook. f. was studied as a model because it is a perennial tussock-forming grass that produces abundant seed but rarely regenerates through seedlings. The Study area was the Magellanic Steppe, Patagonia, Argentina (182 mm rainfall), managed with sheep-grazing regimes of 0.65 (high), 0.21 (low), and 0 (exclosure) ewe equivalents · ha^?1 · yr^?1. Tussock size and spikelet production of 358 individuals were recorded over 5 yr. Yearly models of reproductive effort in relation to plant size were tested using a maximum likelihood procedure. Seed was collected and soil cores were tested for germination and viability. Survival and growth of cohorts of seedlings sown in nylon bags were recorded. Eighteen experimental plots were cleared, and seed establishment under protected and grazed conditions was registered. Reproductive effort varied with years and plant size, with a mean of 2.41%. Florets were produced at mean density of 544 ± 217 · m^?2. Predispersal losses reduced viable seed production to 187 ± 48 seeds · m^?2. Seed weighed 2–2.5 mg, with 65–95% germination. Postdispersal losses reduced the seed bank in spring to 33 ± 1.3 seeds · m^?2. Seedling survival curves were negatively exponential, with 95% mortality in the first year. Up to 5% of resources were used for sexual reproduction in favorable years and a recruitment of 1–3 new seedlings · m^?2 · yr^?1 was expected. These new plants were not observed in undisturbed plots, but established naturally in cleared plots and reached a density of 1 plant · m^?2 after 10 yr, together with 44 plants · m^?2 of other species. Competition might block the final establishment in these grasslands. Grazing does not appear to interfere in any stage of seed reproduction. Seed production may not maintain population numbers but could enhance genetic variation in these clonal plant populations and enable dispersal and recolonization of disturbed areas.