The dynamics of Themeda Triandra tillers in relation to burning in the natal Drakensberg

Abstract

Marked tillers of Themeda triandra were sampled regularly over a two year period in Highland Sourveld burnt annually in winter, biennially in spring and after a single summer and early winter burning treatment. Parameters recorded were height of shoot apex, tiller mass, number of new lateral tillers and time of flowering. Monitoring of marked tillers before and after each burn enabled the life history of populations of tillers to be followed.

There were no significant differences in survivorship between tillers in the annual winter and biennial spring burn treatments but winter burning stimulated the development of a greater number of daughters per parent. Both populations exhibited a constant death rate over the two year period. Only 8% of the marked T. triandra tillers survived the single summer burning treatment.     

Effects of a fast-burning spring fire on the ground-dwelling spider assemblages (Arachnida: Araneae) in a central South African grassland habitat

Fire is widely used as a management strategy in grasslands to maintain vegetation structure and improve grazing quality for large herbivores. The impacts of burning on invertebrates in South Africa remain poorly understood. A study was initiated in spring 2005 to determine the impact of a fast hot burn on ground-dwelling spider assemblages in a grassland habitat in the central Free State. Pitfall traps were set out at six sites in the reserve, with three sites each in the burnt and unburnt areas, to sample spiders over a 12-month period. A total of 5 253 spiders were collected, representing 33 families and 120 species. Spider abundance was significantly lower in the burnt (n = 1 956) than unburnt sites (n = 3 297), and burnt sites had, on average, considerably fewer species than unburnt sites. The dominant families in the burnt sites were Lycosidae (29.5%), Gnaphosidae (16.9%), Ammoxenidae (9.6%) and Zodariidae (5.7%), whereas Ammoxenidae (22.7%), Lycosidae (20.6%), Gnaphosidae (15.3%) and Amaurobiidae (10.2%) dominated the unburnt sites. Of the nine most abundant families collected, only Caponiidae were more abundant in the burnt than unburnt sites. Our data suggest that fast-burning hot spring fires cause a considerable initial post-fire decline in spider abundance, and have a negative influence on the abundance as well as the resistance of assemblages to disturbances other than fire (e.g. rain). However, most of the dominant families had abundances comparable to unburnt areas within a year post-burn.     

中国天然草地净初级生产力时空分布

利用基于草原综合顺序分类系统（CSCS）的改进CASA模型,估算2004-2008年中国草地净初级生产力并分析其时空分布特征。结果表明：2004-2008年中国草地NPP年平均为489.4 g C·m^-2·a^-1,5年里草地NPP总体呈现增加趋势。草地NPP的积累期主要发生在水、热搭配较好的4-10月,占了全年总量的89.1%。春（3月-5月）、夏（6月-8月）、秋（9月-11月）、冬（12月-2月）四季的草地NPP各自占全年总量的18.6%,59.6%,17.4%和4.5%。由年际、月份—空间和季节—空间的NPP变化可知,适宜的水热搭配是草地NPP积累的关键。中国草地NPP随经度的递增而逐渐增大,随纬度的增大而逐渐减小,但存在一定的波动性,其变化规律与水、热状况的地带性规律相一致。     

Effect of season of burning on grass recovery in the false thornveld of the eastern cape

Abstract

Season of burning is one of the most controversial questions concerning the use of fire in veld management. In the summer rainfall areas of South Africa the generally accepted rule of burning only after the first spring rains has proven ineffectual when using fire to control bush encroachment because the fires are too cool when burnt at this time. It was therefore decided to investigate the effect of burning on the regrowth of grass when applied during mid‐winter, spring, late spring and early summer. The results showed that burning when the grass was dormant (mid‐winter) had no deleterious effect on the recovery of grass when compared with burning after the first spring rains (spring). Conversely burning when the grass was actively growing (early summer) seriously retarded its regrowth.     

Long-Term Increasing Productivity of High-Elevation Grassland Caused by Elevated Precipitation and Temperature

It is important to understand how climate change and increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition over the past decades have affected the productivity of different grassland types. High-elevation grasslands are sensitive to human activities and climate change, however little is reported about the effect of temperature, precipitation, and N deposition on productivity. For monitoring long-term changes in productivity, four ungrazed sites were established in 1984 in a high-elevation grassland of the Tianshan mountains in central Asia and grassland productivity was measured over ≈2−3 decades. In addition, a site with four N addition treatments was established in 2009. We conducted an 8-yr experiment in which nitrogen was added in the high-elevation grassland. These results show an aboveground net primary production (ANPP) increase in both spring and the peak growing season at ungrazed sites with increasing temperature and precipitation in the past 30 yr. ANPP of grasses and total grasses and forbs were strengthened by increased N deposition, especially when heavy snowfall was accompanied by higher spring and growing season temperatures. ANPP of total grasses and forbs was significantly correlated with snowfall. High-elevation grasslands are clearly susceptible to climate change and N deposition.     

2010 − 2020年草地土壤氮循环研究现状与发展趋势

氮素是蛋白质、核酸、叶绿素等物质的主要组成成分,是限制生态系统功能的主要因子;氮循环作为土壤生态系统元素循环的核心之一,将草地生态系统与社会、环境联系起来,尤其是氮的投入对于草地生产力的高低至关重要。但是,土壤氮素的损失会降低环境质量、影响人类生活。因此,研究草地土壤氮循环对维持草地生态系统的结构和功能、促进人与自然和谐共生具有重要意义。本文基于Citespace软件,对Web of Science核心合集数据库2010 ? 2020年草地土壤氮循环方面文献进行计量分析。结果表明,国内外在氮循环方面的研究呈不断上升趋势,国内外研究需进一步加强合作以提高文章质量。此外,本文系统综述了生物因子(植物、微生物)、人类活动(放牧、火烧、开垦、刈割等)和非生物因子(大气氮沉降、增温与CO2浓度升高、降水)对草地土壤氮循环过程的影响。基于上述背景,对未来亟待研究的问题进行探讨和展望,提出要注重全球变化因子耦合作用下,对草地土壤氮循环区域尺度上的长期研究,完善氮循环模型,实现草地的可持续发展。     

基于草原综合顺序分类法的中国山地草地亚类分类研究北大核心CSCD

草地作为陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,精准界定草地类型对草地资源研究具有重要意义。本研究基于数字高程模型(DEM),采用草原综合顺序分类法(CSCS),对中国山地草地亚类进行定量划分,并分析了草地亚类在山地区域的空间分布特征。结果表明:1)山地亚类共划分为20种,以小起伏山地亚类为主,面积分布最广泛;丘陵、中起伏山地亚类面积分布相当;大起伏和极大起伏山地亚类面积分布较少;2)原则上每种草地类型可划分为20种草地亚类,由于山地水热条件的空间差异,在特定环境下某些草地亚类并不存在;3)寒冷潮湿多雨冻原、高山草甸类(ⅠF36)的山地亚类面积分布最大;寒温潮湿寒温性针叶林类(ⅡF37)的山地亚类面积占第二位;暖热潮湿落叶-常绿阔叶林类(ⅤF40)的山地亚类面积居第三;亚热极干亚热带荒漠类(ⅥA6)的山地亚类面积分布最小。该研究结果可为草原开发利用、培育保护和经营管理,以及畜牧业的发展提供一定科学依据。     

Veld burning in giant's castle game reserve,natal Drakensberg

A basic aim in the management of a wildlife reserve is to maintain ecological diversity. In the Giant's Castle Game Reserve the vegetation is largely composed of fire sub‐climax grasslands. Under the natural fire‐regime, before man influenced the system much, fires probably occurred at any time of the year, but mostly in summer. At present there are acute problems in controlling wildfires which occur mostly in late winter when there is an extreme fire hazard. Most of the Natal Drakensberg is now burnt by wildfires in late winter and deliberate fires in early spring. The ecological effect of the natural and present fire regimes are discussed, and a burning plan for Giant's Castle is outlined.     

内蒙古农牧交错区草地气候生产力对气候变化的响应

摘要：本研究以太仆寺旗为例,利用1979-2009年的气候数据,分析了内蒙古农牧交错区气候变化趋势,并结合Miami和Thornthwaite Memorial模型研究草地气候生产力对不同气候变化情景的响应。结果表明,近30年来,太仆寺旗年平均气温增温趋势明显（每10年0.62 ℃）,四季平均气温均有显著上升,以冬季升温最明显（每10年0.84 ℃）;年降水量有下降趋势（每10年5.3 mm）,但趋势不明显;综合考虑水热因子的Thornthwaite Memorial模型更能够反映草地气候生产力的变化趋势,与温度相比,降水是影响草地生产力的关键因子;在气候变暖的背景下, “暖湿型”气候可提高草地气候生产力,变化幅度为8.3%~16.7%,假如未来气候向“暖干型”发展,草地气候生产力的变化为-4.8%~3.5%。     

内蒙古天然草地退化成因的多因素灰色关联分析

选取内蒙古草地典型草原、草甸草原及农牧交错带典型区,通过对区域内影响草地退化的社会、经济和环境等因素进行定性分析,应用灰色系统理论的关联分析方法,以草地退化面积为参考数列,以牧草生长季积温、降水变率和年大风日数等气候因子,草地超载比例、人工种草与围栏草场面积、年割草量、畜棚与畜圈面积和牧民人均收入等人类活动因子作为比较数列,对草地退化进行了多因素关联分析。研究结果客观、定量地揭示了草地退化与各因素间的相互关系,认为草地生态系统的退化受损是气候变化和人类活动共同胁迫的结果,人类对草地的管理方式对草地生态系统具有巨大影响,人类可以通过多种管理措施来减轻牲畜对草场的压力,积极解决人与资源的平衡。     

山西省京津风沙源治理工程草地生态系统服务价值评估

为了评价京津风沙源治理工程草地建设项目所涉及到的山西省13个县区,2006年前完成的基本草地、人工种草、草种基地、飞播牧草、围栏封育等草地生态系统的服务价值。依据学者提出的9种生态服务功能,结合生物量因子等校正,对京津风沙源治理工程草地建设项目所涉及到的山西省草地生态系统的服务价值进行评估。京津风沙源治理工程中,建植或恢复的草地植被,能够为13个县区带来0.754~2.493×108元/a的生态系统服务价值,从提供的生态系统服务价值的构成来看,从高到低依次为:废物处理、土壤形成与保护、食物生产、气候调节、生物多样性保护、水源涵养、气体调节、原材料、娱乐文化,各自所占的比例分别为22.9%、22.0%、13.0%、12.8%、11.0%、9.0%、7.8%、1.3%、0.2%。京津风沙源治理工程总计可为山西省产生2.338×109元/a的生态系统服务价值。     

The effect of thirty years of burning on the Highland Sourveld of Natal

Abstract

A veld condition assessment was used to determine the effect of past burning treatments on the species composition of Highland Sourveld at Cathedral Peak. Veld condition scores in grassland protected from fire were significantly lower than where veld had been burnt or burnt and grazed at regular intervals. Frequent defoliation was found to maintain the grassland composition largely unchanged over a period of 30 years. Individual species were found to react strongly to defoliation frequency.     

冬季放牧和春季火烧对新麦草生长与种子产量的影响

研究前一年冬季放牧和春季火烧对新麦草(Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski)植株生长与种子增产效应,旨在提出新麦草种子高产的田间管理技术。结果表明:前一年冬季放牧和春季火烧处理均可明显促进新麦草种子田的生育进程,返青分别较对照提前23 d和19 d,以冬季放牧更为显著;两种处理可提高地上生物量、单位面积的平均分蘖数和分蘖株的大小,而且收获期基部功能叶的叶面积有所增加,均以冬季放牧最高,表明冬季放牧能够促进新麦草生殖生长,抑制营养生长;两种处理均可提高单位面积的生殖枝数,从而显著提高单位面积的潜在种子产量、表现种子产量和实际种子产量,均以冬季放牧最高,实际种子产量可达2303.9 kg/hm²,较春季火烧(1384.8 kg/hm²)和对照(928.4 kg/hm²)增产66%和148%;冬季放牧既可提高新麦草种子产量,又可充分利用种子田的饲草贮存,可作为重要的种子增产手段加以推广利用。     

宁夏草原针茅属植物群落物种多样性和生产力格局及影响因素研究

物种多样性和生产力是草地生态系统的核心指标,是实现草地生态系统服务与功能的根本所在.宁夏温性草原位于干旱与半干旱的过渡区,针茅属植物是其优势种群,对水热变化敏感;因此,在全球气候变化背景下,探讨宁夏草原针茅属植物群落物种多样性与生产力的格局,在宏观尺度揭示其影响因素,不仅在生态学理论研究中具有重大价值,而且对宁夏天然草...     

陇中黄土高原不同种植年限苜蓿草地土壤水分及产量响应

本研究利用黄土高原西部典型半干旱雨养农业区不同种植年限苜蓿草地布设田间试验,系统研究了3,6,8,10,12以及14 a 紫花苜蓿生产力及其土壤水分变化特征。结果表明,不同种植年限紫花苜蓿草产量差异显著,且表现为随着种植年限的增加,呈先增加后减小的趋势,其中以 8 a 苜蓿草产量最高,为12128 kg/hm²。持续种植3,6,8,10,12和14 a 苜蓿草地0300 cm土层平均含水量均明显低于当地土壤稳定湿度值,其中12和14 a仅为9.20% 和7.14%,甚至低于作物有效水分下限。随着苜蓿种植年限的延长,土壤干燥化程度加剧,但干燥化速率呈减缓趋势。综合苜蓿生产力动态和土壤水分状况,本研究表明陇中黄土高原地区紫花苜蓿适宜的种植年限为8 a。     

Seasonal diet composition and forage selectivity of Boer goats in a semi-arid gypsophilous grassland

Botanical and chemical compositions of Boer goat diets, determined with repeated collection of forage samples taken from the goat’s mouth, were studied in a gypsophilous grassland during four seasons of the year. Ten pluriparous goats were used to collect selected forage species. Shrubs were a minor dietary component throughout the year (<7.5%). Goats selected more (p?<?0.01) grass during autumn and winter (34.2–37.8%) than during spring (21.2%) and summer (29.0%). During all seasons goat diets were dominated by forbs (>59%). Diets were lowest (p?<?0.05) in percentage of crude protein during spring, summer and autumn (13.2?±?3.5, 13.2?±?2.4 and 14.2?±?3.9, respectively) than winter (17.5?±?2.9) with levels above the recommended quantities for goats throughout the year. In vitro dry matter digestibility of forages selected by goats did not differ between seasons (range 47.4–53.3%). It was concluded that in this particular ecosystem goats preferred forb species over grasses across all seasons. In addition, goats maintained relatively stable diet quality by forage-class mixing of diets.     

青藏高原退化草地的恢复潜势研究

近年来青藏高原高寒草地生态系统整体上呈现改善的状态,但仍有部分草地存在不同程度的退化,对青藏高原草地现状及恢复潜势进行评估对于青藏高原退化草地恢复政策的制定具有重要意义。基于2001-2019年气象数据与MODIS遥感影像,选用CASA模型和Thornthwaite Memorial模型分别计算了青藏高原现实净初级生产力（actual net primary productivity,NPP）和潜在净初级生产力（potential net primary productivity,PNPP）,并以其差值评估草地恢复潜势,主要结论如下：1）2001-2019年青藏高原NPP呈现东南部高,西北部低的分布特征;青藏高原草地持续恢复区域占40.98%,持续稳定区域占12.72%,而持续退化区域仅占3.47%,青藏高原草地整体以可持续的恢复状态为主。2）2001-2019年青藏高原潜在净初级生产力最大值（maximum potential net primary productivity,PNPP_m）呈现明显东南与西南部高,北部偏低的空间分布格局。各草地类型PNPP_m多在1000 g C·m^-2左右。3）2001-2019年青藏高原草地恢复潜势呈现西南与东南部较高,北部偏低的分布情况。由此可见日喀则地区、阿里南部地区、阿坝藏族羌族自治州以及甘南藏族自治州等地的草地具有较高的恢复价值,在这些地区开展草地恢复的前景更好。研究结果为青藏高原退化草地恢复政策的制定提供科学与理论支撑,对指导青藏高原草地保护与生态系统恢复具有重要意义。     

黄土高原半干旱区不同封育年限草地生态系统碳密度

本研究以云雾山国家级自然保护区典型草原为研究对象,分析了不同封育年限长芒草(Stipa bungeana)草地生态系统碳密度及其库间分配规律。主要结果如下:放牧和封育5年、9年、15年、22年、25年、30年的草地生态系统碳密度变化范围为212.72~350.42MgC·hm^-2,其中,封育30年草地最高,放牧草地最低,且显著低于各封育草地(P<0.05)。草地植被碳密度以封育15年最高,达到15.65MgC·hm^-2,放牧草地最低,仅为7.82MgC·hm^-2。在库间分配上,根系碳密度所占平均比例达到82.56%。草地土壤碳密度在204.90~337.36MgC·hm^-2之间变化,随封育年限的延长持续增加,封育草地土壤碳密度是放牧牧草地的2.33~2.64倍。以上结果表明,封育可显著提高黄土高原半干旱区草地生态系统碳密度,但过长时间的封育阻碍草地的更新和固碳潜力发挥,合理利用才能促进草地生态系统持续健康发展。     

2006-2013年三江源草地产草量的时空动态变化及其对降水的响应

三江源地区是我国重要的江河发源地,分析该地区多年草地产草量的时空动态变化,探讨产草量与降水量的关系,对于在未来气候变化情景下合理管理草地、指导畜牧业发展具有重要意义。利用2006-2013年MODIS-NDVI数据和同期442个地面采样数据,对3个草地类型分别建立NDVI与实测产草量之间的经验关系模型,并用这些模型推算2006-2013年三江源草地产草量的分布;同时,从三江源不同类型草地产草量与年降水量、不同月份降水量及不同降水累积时期的关系入手,探讨三江源地区草地生产力如何响应降水格局的变化。结果表明,从整个三江源地区来看:(1)2006-2013年产草量呈现增加的趋势,不同草地类型产草量对年降水量变化的响应程度不同。(2)对产草量影响最重要的降水月份是前一年10月,其次是当年4和5月。(3)驱动产草量年际变化最重要的累积降水时期是前一年的10月到当年5月。(4)前一年秋季和当年春季的累积降水量对第二年产草量有着至关重要的影响。     

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。