Responses of microbial activities and soil physical-chemical properties to the successional process of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert,Xinjiang

Biological soil crusts(BSCs) are capable of modifying nutrient availability to favor the establishment of biogeochemical cycles. Microbial activities serve as critical roles for both carbon and nutrient transformation in BSCs. However, little is known about microbial activities and physical-chemical properties of BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert, Xinjiang, China. In the present research, a sampling line with 1-m wide and 20-m long was set up in each of five typical interdune areas selected randomly in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Within each sampling line, samples of bare sand sheet, algal crusts, lichen crusts and moss crusts were randomly collected at the depth of 0–2 cm. Variations of microalgal biomass, microbial biomass, enzyme activities and soil physical-chemical properties in different succession of BSCs were analyzed. The relationships between microalgal biomass, microbial biomass, enzymatic activities and soil physical-chemical properties were explored by stepwise regression. Our results indicate that microalgal biomass, microbial biomass and most of enzyme activities increased as the BSCs developed and their highest values occurred in lichen or moss crusts. Except for total K, the contents of most soil nutrients(organic C, total N, total P, available N, available P and available K) were the lowest in the bare sand sheet and significantly increased with the BSCs development, reaching their highest values in moss crusts. However, pH values significantly decreased as the BSCs developed. Significant and positive correlations were observed between chlorophyll a and microbial biomass C. Total P and N were positively associated with chlorophyll a and microbial biomass C, whereas there was a significant and negative correlation between microbial biomass and available P. The growth of cyanobacteria and microorganism contributed C and N in the soil, which offered substrates for enzyme activities thus increasing enzyme activities. Probably, improvement in enzyme activities increased soil fertility and promoted the growth of cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae and heterotrophic microorganism, with the accelerating succession of BSCs. The present research found that microalgal-microbial biomass and enzyme activities played important roles on the contents of nutrients in the successional stages of BSCs and helped us to understand developmental mechanism in the succession of BSCs.     

黄土高原藓结皮覆盖土壤导水性能和水流特征

生物结皮具有特殊的水文物理性质,为探究其对土壤水分渗透性和水流特征的影响,以黄土高原风沙土和黄绵土上3种典型地表覆盖类型(裸地、藓结皮、藓结皮-草本植物混合)为对象,采用环刀法和染色示踪法对其导水性质与水流特征进行探究。结果表明:藓结皮对2种土壤类型0~5 cm土层土壤理化性质影响较大,与裸地相比土壤容重降低了9.85%~10.00%,土壤黏粒含量增加了1.01~1.29倍,表层有机质含量提高了2.73~3.02倍;藓结皮使0~5 cm土层土壤饱和导水率降低了61.32%~88.89%,而在5~10 cm土层饱和导水率则有明显上升。另外,由于草本植物的影响,藓结皮-草本植物0~5 cm土层与藓结皮土壤相比土壤饱和导水率提高了1.32~6.43倍;黄绵土藓结皮与藓结皮-草本植物的染色面积比均高于裸地,且水分下渗深度增加了10 cm,而风沙土藓结皮与风沙土裸地的染色面积比差异不明显。综上所述,藓结皮和藓结皮-草本植物的存在改变了表层土壤水分渗透性以及水流运动特征和水分下渗深度,影响着黄土高原土壤水分保持和生态恢复。     

Carbon fixation and influencing factors of biological soil crusts in a revegetated area of the Tengger Desert,northern China

Biological soil crusts （BSCs） are an important type of land cover in arid desert landscapes and play an important role in the carbon source-sink exchange within a desert system. In this study, two typical BSCs, moss crusts and algae crusts, were selected from a revegetated sandy area of the Tengger Desert in northern China, and the experiment was carried out over a 3-year period from January 2010 to November 2012. We obtained the effec- tive active wetting time to maintain the physiological activity of BSCs basing on continuous field measurements and previous laboratory studies on BSCs photosynthesis and respiration rates. And then we developed a BSCs carbon fixation model that is driven by soil moisture. The results indicated that moss crusts and algae crusts had significant effects on soil moisture and temperature dynamics by decreasing rainfall infiltration. The mean carbon fixation rates of moss and algae crusts were 0.21 and 0.13 g C/（m2.d）, respectively. The annual carbon fixations of moss crusts and algae crusts were 64.9 and 38.6 g C/（m2.a）, respectively, and the carbon fixation of non-rainfall water reached 11.6 g C/（m2.a） （30.2% of the total） and 8.8 g C/（m2.a） （43.6% of the total）, respectively. Finally, the model was tested and verified with continuous field observations. The data of the modeled and measured CO2 fluxes matched notably well. In desert regions, the carbon fixation is higher with high-frequency rainfall even the total amount of seasonal rainfall was the same.     

古尔班通古特沙漠不同类型生物结皮对草本植物多样性影响

选择古尔班通古特沙漠的北部(一号点)、中部(二号点)、南部(三号点)3个不同样点的裸沙和藻结皮、地衣结皮与苔藓结皮3种生物结皮类型,对比研究了草本植物多样性的差异性及其主要环境影响因素.结果表明:(1)不同生物结皮类型的土壤理化性质有明显差异,土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾含量以及黏粒、粉粒和细沙的含量随生物结皮演替显著...     

Precipitation and soil particle size co-determine spatial distribution of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert,China

Biological soil crusts(BSCs) are bio-sedimentary associations that play crucial ecological roles in arid and semi-arid regions. In the Gurbantunggut Desert of China, more than 27% of the land surface is characterized by a predominant cover of lichen-dominated BSCs that contribute to the stability of the desert. However, little is known about the major factors that limit the spatial distribution of BSCs at a macro scale. In this study, the cover of BSCs was investigated along a precipitation gradient from the margins to the center of the Gurbantunggut Desert. Environmental variables including precipitation, soil particle size, soil p H, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon, total salt, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium were analyzed at a macro scale to determine their association with differing assemblages of BSCs(cyanobacteria crusts, lichen crusts and moss crusts) using constrained linear ordination redundancy analysis(RDA). A model of BSCs distribution correlated with environmental variables that dominated the first two axes of the RDA was constructed to clearly demonstrate the succession stages of BSCs. The study determined that soil particle size(represented by coarse sand content) and precipitation are the most significant drivers influencing the spatial distribution of BSCs at a macro scale in the Gurbantunggut Desert. The cover of lichen and moss crusts increased with increasing precipitation, while the cover of cyanobacteria crusts decreased with increasing precipitation. The cover of lichen and moss crusts was negatively associated with coarse sand content, whereas the cover of cyanobacteria crusts was positively correlated with coarse sand content. These findings highlight the need for both the availability of soil moisture and a relatively stable of soil matrix, not only for the growth of BSCs but more importantly, for the regeneration and rehabilitation of disturbed BSC communities in arid and semi-arid lands. Thereby, this study will provide a theory basis to effectively increase soil stability in desert regions.     

不同沙丘部位和不同结皮类型对土壤种子库的影响

采用萌发法对古尔班通古特沙漠沙垄不同部位生物结皮类型的种子库进行研究,发现不同沙丘部位和结皮类型种子分布特征有一定的规律性:藻类结皮的种子数量、丰富度和多样性均显著高于地衣和苔藓结皮。生物结皮从藻类到地衣和苔藓的演替,有降低种子数量和种子多样性的现象。在不同沙丘部位,沙丘顶部流沙的种子数量和多样性较低,与丘顶流沙相比沙丘底部的藻类结皮显示出较高的丰富度和多样性,但沙丘底部的地衣和苔藓结皮与丘顶流沙相比未表现出明显的差异。背风坡中部的藻类结皮种子多样性较高,显著高于迎风坡中部的藻类结皮。     

荒漠结皮对土壤水分状况的影响

本研究针对鄂尔多斯沙地生物结皮进行调查 ,利用人工喷水模拟降雨分析结皮对土壤入渗性能的影响。研究表明 :生物结皮能显著地降低土壤水分的入渗速率。在去掉结皮时 ,表层下 5 cm处的土壤含水量在 1 0分钟时即开始显著增加 ,而有结皮时 ,此处的含水量则在 1 5分钟时才开始显著增加。利用圆盘入渗仪测定有结皮和无结皮条件下的土壤饱和导水率表明 :固定沙丘间地有生物结皮的土壤饱和导水率范围是 :2 9.1 0 - 82 .2 1 mm/ h;半固定沙丘有微弱结皮时饱和导水率为 1 43.5 4 - 2 30 .2 5 ;去掉结皮后土壤的饱和导水率可显著上升数倍 ,无结皮的流沙的饱和导水率最高。     

Species composition, distribution patterns and ecological functions of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert

As one of the most important biological factors that maintain the stability of the largest fixed and semi-fixed desert in China,the Gurbantunggut Desert,the biological soil crusts (BSCs) develop well and play critical ecological roles in the desert ecosystem. In this paper,we briefly summarize our research findings since 2002 including species composition,distribution pattern and ecological functions of BSCs in the desert. Our results indicate abundant species diversity of BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert in comparison to other deserts in China. At the scales of sand dune or whole desert,the distribution patterns of BSCs are location-specific. The existence of BSCs in this desert could:(1) accelerate the formation of desert soil and the weathering of minerals; (2) accumulate organic matter in surface soil through related species in soil crusts; (3) enhance the abilities of sand surface to resist wind erosion; (4) influence seed germination of vascular plants; and (5) enhance the production of dew deposition on sandy soil surface.     

Effects of artificially cultivated biological soil crusts on soil nutrients and biological activities in the Loess Plateau

Biological soil crusts （BSCs） play an important role in the early succession of vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau, China. To evaluate the effects of artificially cultivated BSCs on the soil surface micro-envir- onment, we obtained natural moss crusts and moss-lichen crusts from the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi province, and subsequently inoculated and cultivated on horizontal and sloping surfaces of loess soil in a greenhouse. The chemical and biological properties of the subsoil under cultivated BSCs were determined after 10 weeks of cul- tivation. The results indicated that BSCs coverage was more than 65% after 10 weeks of cultivation. Moss crust coverage reached 40% after 5 weeks of cultivation. Compared with the control, soil organic matter and available nitrogen contents in moss crust with the horizontal treatments increased by 100.87% and 48.23%, respectively; increased by 67.56% and 52.17% with the sloping treatments, respectively; they also increased in moss-lichen crust with horizontal and sloping treatments, but there was no significant difference. Available phosphorus in cultivated BSCs was reduced, soil pH was lower and cationic exchange capacity was higher in cultivated BSCs than in the control. Alkaline phosphatase, urease and invertase activities were increased in artificially cultivated BSCs, and alkaline phosphatase activity in all cultivated BSCs was obviously higher than that in the control. Numbers of soil bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were increased in the formation process of cultivated BSCs. These results indicate that BSCs could be formed rapidly in short-term cultivation and improve the mi- cro-environment of soil surface, which provides a scientific reference for vegetation restoration and ecological reconstruction in the Loess Plateau. China.     

Microbiotic Crust Influence on Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity

Microbiotic crusts occur extensively in rangeland soils . Developed by filaments of cyanobacteria and algae , and thalli of lichen and moss entanglement of soil particles , they create a physical discontinuity in the surface profile with greater concen trations of clay , silt , and potentially hydrophobic organic matter. These conditions potentially contribute to variability in soil hydrology of arid land and should be considered in the development of hydrologic and erosion models. However, there is limited manipulative research examining the functional relationships between soil and microbiotic crusts . We investigated the influence of cyanobacterial-dominated microbiotic crust on measured hydraulic conductivity (K) in a sandy loam soil at a southeastern Utah site . Using a tension infiltrometer , we determined K under three surface treatments: undisturbed , chemically killed (representing dead microphytes within the crust), and removed (scalped) microbiotic crusts. We applied treatments to spatially interspersed intact surface soils within shrub interspaces . Microbiotic crusts at this site and in this stage of successional development had no discernible influence on K. This finding supports results from research conducted in a variety of soils from sandy to silt dominated with a range of microbiotic development . Because this research was site and time specific , and because the role of microbiotic crusts in the environment continues to be debated , additional research is warranted to deter mine how stage of development of microbiotic crust influences soil hydrology .     

古尔班通古特沙漠地衣结皮对放牧踩踏干扰的小尺度响应

古尔班通古特沙漠地衣结皮对放牧踩踏干扰及其所引起的生境异质性具有重要的指示作用。研究表明：① 放牧踩踏干扰主要集中于结皮层（0~5 cm）,随机调查的样方中,90%的样方干扰率均低于30%,生物土壤结皮(BSCs)破损尚处于较安全的范围;② 放牧踩踏干扰降低了BSCs总盖度,不同类型的结皮对践踏干扰的反应具差异性,其中,真菌-藻类共生形成的地衣结皮与干扰率呈极显著负相关（P<0.01）,干扰率>30%的样方中,抗风蚀能力较强的苔藓结皮、地衣结皮盖度均显著低于未受干扰样方,地衣共生体的破坏导致真菌数量显著增加（P<0.05）;③ 有机质、土壤容重等土壤理化指标均与干扰率呈负相关,干扰率>30%的样方中各指标均低于未受干扰样方。其中,土壤容重是对放牧干扰比较敏感的指标,与地衣结皮盖度亦呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,与流沙盖度呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。     

Biocrust-induced partitioning of soil water between grass and shrub in a desert steppe of Northwest China

Maintaining the stability of exotic sand-binding shrub has become a large challenge in arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystems in northern China. We investigated two kinds of shrublands with different BSCs (biological soil crusts) cover in desert steppe in Northwest China to characterize the water sources of shrub (Caragana intermedia Kuang et H. C. Fu) and grass (Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit.) by stable ¹⁸O isotopic. Our results showed that both shrublands were subject to persistent soil water deficiency from 2012 to 2017, the minimum soil depth with CV (coefficient of variation) <15% and SWC (soil water content) <6% was 1.4 m in shrubland with open areas lacking obvious BSC cover, and 0.8 m in shrubland covered by mature BSCs. For C. intermedia, a considerable proportion of water sources pointed to the surface soil. Water from BSCs contributed to averages 22.9% and 17.6% of the total for C. intermedia and A. scoparia, respectively. C. intermedia might use more water from BSCs in rainy season than dry season, in contrast to A. scoparia. The relationship between shrub (or grass) and soil water by δ¹⁸O shown significant differences in months, which partly verified the potential trends and relations covered by the high variability of the water source at seasonal scale. More fine roots at 0-5 cm soil layer could be found in the surface soil layer covered by BSCs (8000 cm/m³) than without BSCs (3200 cm/m³), which ensured the possibility of using the surface soil water by C. intermedia. The result implies that even under serious soil water deficiency, C. intermedia can use the surface soil water, leading to the coexistence between C. intermedia and A. scoparia. Different with the result from BSCs in desert areas, the natural withdrawal of artificial C. intermedia from desert steppe will be a long-term process, and the highly competitive relationship between shrubs and grasses also determines that its habitat will be maintained in serious drought state for a long time.     

毛乌素沙地东南缘不同类型沙丘土壤水分分布特征

通过对横山县境内毛乌素沙地东南缘的实地考察,根据植被类型和植被覆盖度,将沙丘分为裸露流动沙丘、灌木覆盖沙丘、乔木覆盖沙丘,分别在各类沙丘不同地貌部位实施4 m深度钻孔取样,并进行含水量测试和粒度分析,研究沙地土壤含水量变化。结果表明:对于垂直方向0～4m深度的沙地、灌木和乔木覆盖沙丘平均含水量变化为:丘间洼地>迎风坡>背风坡,而裸露流动沙丘平均含水量变化为:丘间洼地>背风坡>迎风坡;不同类型沙丘在各地貌部位不同层段含水量变化差异明显,变化趋势不统一。沙丘的地貌部位相同,地表的植被类型和覆盖度差异是影响沙地土壤含水量的重要因素,测试结果显示,迎风坡含水量为:灌木覆盖沙丘>乔木覆盖沙丘>裸露流动沙丘;背风坡含水量为:灌木覆盖沙丘>裸露流动沙丘>乔木覆盖沙丘;丘间洼地含水量为:灌木覆盖沙丘>乔木覆盖沙丘>裸露流动沙丘。灌木覆盖沙丘土壤含水量变异系数最大,水分含量在不同层位波动较大,裸露流动沙丘和乔木覆盖沙丘含水量波动差异较小。沙丘上生长的灌木和乔木明显地改变了沙丘含水量的变化特征,灌木比乔木对沙丘含水量及其垂向变化的影响更显著。灌木对地表大气中的粉尘有较强的拦截能力,灌木沙丘平均的粉砂和黏土含量高,灌木的覆盖有利于沙地的土壤化进程和保持沙地水分,在沙地绿化过程中,应充分考虑灌木植物的作用。     

Snowpack shifts cyanobacterial community in biological soil crusts

Winter snowpack is an important source of moisture that influences the development ofbiological soil crusts(BSCs)in desert ecosystems.Cyanobacteria are important photosynthetic organismsin BSCs.However,the responses of the cyanobacterial community in BSCs to snowpack,snow depth andmelting snow are still unknown.In this study,we investigated the cyanobacterial community compositionand diversity in BSCs under different snow treatments(doubled snow,ambient snow and removed snow)and three snow stages(stage 1,snowpack;stage 2,melting snow;and stage 3,melted snow)in theGurbantunggut Desert in China.In stages 1 and 2,Cyanobacteria were the dominant phylum in the bacterialcommunity in the removed snow treatment,whereas Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were abundant inthe bacterial communities in the ambient snow and doubled snow treatments.The relative abundances ofProteobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased with increasing snow depth.The relative abundances ofCyanobacteria and other bacterial taxa were affected mainly by soil temperature and irradiance.In stages 2and 3,the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria increased quickly due to the suitable soil moisture andirradiance conditions.Oscillatoriales,Chroococcales,Nostocales,Synechococcales and unclassifiedCyanobacteria were detected in all the snow treatments,and the most dominant taxa were Oscillatorialesand Chroococcales.Various cyanobacterial taxa showed different responses to snowpack.Soil moisture andirradiance were the two critical factors shaping the cyanobacterial community structure.The snowpackdepth and duration altered the soil surface irradiance,soil moisture and other soil properties,whichconsequently were selected for different cyanobacterial communities.Thus,local microenvironmentalfiltering(niche selection)caused by snow conditions may be a dominant process driving shifts in thecyanobacterial community in BSCs.     

Effects of vegetation near-soil-surface factors on runoff and sediment reduction in typical grasslands on the Loess Plateau,China

Vegetation near-soil-surface factors can protect topsoil from erosion, however, their contributions to the reduction of soil erosion, especially under natural rainfall events, have not been systematically recognized. This study was performed to quantify the effects of near-soil-surface factors on runoff and sediment under natural rainfall events on grasslands dominated by Bothriochloa ischaemum(Linn.)Keng(BI grassland) and Artemisia gmelinii Thunb.(AG grassland) in two typical watersheds on the ...     

新疆阿瓦提丰收灌区砂壤土非饱和土壤水分运动参数的测定与计算

采用负压计法和双环入渗法在田间分别测定了阿瓦提丰收灌区砂壤土土壤含水率及其对应的土壤水吸力和土壤饱和导水率,采用Sigmaplot软件拟合了Van Genuchten水分特征曲线公式.根据Mualem提出的非饱和土壤导水率公式,建立了该灌区砂壤土非饱和土壤导水率的计算公式,并间接推导了非饱和土壤扩散率和比水容量两个参数...     

沙漠生物结皮对维管植物养分吸收的影响

生物结皮是沙地表面被固定的重要特征,并能够富集养分,通过降水淋溶作用改善沙丘土壤的性质。研究表明,生物结皮层覆盖对植物体的养分元素吸收具有促进作用,但是,由于不同植物养分生理特性的差异及其根系分布深度的不同,不同植物吸收养分时对生物结皮层肥岛效应的敏感程度不同。     

科尔沁沙地坨甸交错区土壤水分的空间变异规律

科尔沁沙地沙丘-草甸相间地区,地貌形态多样、土地利用类型众多,从而导致土壤水分空间分布的复杂性。通过对科尔沁沙地典型沙丘-草甸相间地区的调查取样与试验分析,运用统计学理论和方法,研究土壤水分的空间变异性及其空间分布规律。结果表明：水平方向上,土壤水分总体表现为草甸地大于沙丘地,过渡带介于两者之间。就草甸地而言,植物生长越好,其土壤水分越高,保水持水性能也越好;沙丘地则与之相反,植被最稀疏的流动沙丘,其土壤含水量大于半流动半固定沙丘与固定沙丘,且有良好的储水条件。垂向上,高覆盖草甸、低覆盖草甸和农田（草甸）土壤含水量在地表下0～40 cm波动最大,40～160 cm随深度增加而递增;流动沙丘、半流动沙丘和固定沙丘土壤含水量随深度增加呈微弱加大趋势。林地、撂荒地、农田（沙丘）变化程度居中。从空间分布看,研究区中东部土壤水分偏大,且向南北两侧区域递减。     

我国干旱沙漠地区不同类型土壤结皮的理化性质研究

本研究对我国干旱沙漠地区不同类型土壤结皮的理化性质特征进行了系统研究。研究结果表明:无论是不同地区还是同一地区不同发育程度的土壤结皮机械组成,它们的共同特征都是砂粒和粗粉粒含量相对较多,细粉粒和粘粒含量相对较少;从流沙到土壤结皮的形成过程中,粗粉粒是土壤结皮形成的关键基础。通过对同一地区不同发育程度的结皮机械组成比较说明结皮形成初期对颗粒组成有一定的要求,组成达到一定范围才能形成结皮,结皮一旦形成,随时间的增加,结皮厚度在不断增加,但质地基本不变。土壤结皮的形成过程是土壤养分和有机质不断富积的过程。各研究区的土壤结皮pH值相差不大,均在8左右,呈弱碱性;碱化度均≥5,处于碱化发育过程中。由于各地降水量和土壤母质发育的不同,不同地区以及同一地区不同发育程度的土壤结皮之间的CaCO3含量差异较大;同一地区土壤结皮的全盐量差异不大;不同地区土壤结皮的阴阳离子交换量差异较大,同一地区之间差异不大。该文对进一步研究土壤结皮的形成有一定的参考价值。     

黄土地与沙地生物结皮的发育特征及其生态功能异同

基于课题组已有研究成果,选取陕北水蚀风蚀交错区内气候条件相同但土壤质地迥异的试验区,探讨黄土地和沙地生物结皮发育特征及其生态效应的异同。结果表明:(1)苔藓结皮是2种土地生物结皮的重要类型,其中,黄土地的优势藓种为尖叶对齿藓[Didymodon constrictus(Mitt.)Saito.]、真藓(Bryum argenteum Hedw.)、狭网真藓(B.algovicum Sendt.);沙地的优势藓种为黄色真藓(B.pallescens Scheich.)、弯叶真藓(B.recurvulum Mitt.)、银叶真藓(B.argenteum Hedw.)。沙地乔灌植物下生物结皮盖度(77.5%)、厚度(11.8 mm)及容重(1.9 g·cm~(-3))均高于黄土地生物结皮,而黄土地多年生草本植物下生物结皮抗剪强度(26.5 k Pa)高于沙地生物结皮,总体上,沙地生物结皮发育的更好。(2)黄土地的入渗增幅和0~200 cm剖面的平均土壤含水率增幅均显著高于沙地(P0.05),且在旱季和雨季其0~200 cm剖面的平均土壤含水率增幅分别比沙地高1.4%和1.9%。(3)两地生物结皮均表现出了较好的减蚀作用,其减蚀效率分别为81.0%和90.6%。