养分添加和降水变化对荒漠草原植物群落物种多样性和生物量的影响

本研究旨在探讨荒漠草原植物群落物种多样性及生物量对养分添加和降水变化的适应策略,以期为退化荒漠草原的恢复和管理提供理论基础。本试验在宁夏荒漠草原开展了养分添加和降水变化野外控制试验,通过测定植物群落物种数及生物量,研究养分添加和降水变化对荒漠草原植物群落物种多样性和生物量的影响。结果表明：养分添加显著降低禾草丰富度（P<0.05）;减少50%降水显著降低Shannon-Wiener指数和物种总丰富度,增加50%降水显著增加物种总丰富度（20.5%～28.2%）（P<0.05）;养分添加和增加50%降水显著提高植物群落盖度和生物量（P<0.05）;减少50%降水条件下,养分添加处理与不添加处理相比植物群落地上生物量显著提高（54.3%～75.6%）（P<0.05）;植物群落地上生物量与Shannon-Wiener指数和物种总丰富度呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。研究表明：减少50%降水条件下,养分添加能够缓解水分对荒漠草原植物生长的限制,其中氮磷钾添加缓解效果优于氮添加。     

Long-Term Effects of Aeration and Fire on Invasion of Exotic Grasses in Mixed-Brush Plant Communities

Invasion of exotic grasses into grasslands dominated by native plants changes fire cycles and reduces biodiversity. Brush management practices that create soil disturbance, such as aeration, may potentially result in invasion of exotic grasses and replacement of native vegetation. We tested the hypothesis that a long-term effect of aeration and prescribed burning is an increase in exotic grasses. The study was conducted at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in the western south Texas plains where four treatments were evaluated: aeration, warm-season burn, aeration followed by a warm-season burn, and no treatment (control). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates. We estimated percentage canopy cover of exotic grasses, native grasses, forbs, litter, bare ground, and woody and succulent plants in 2007. There was a multivariate main effect among treatments for the dependent variables absolute canopy cover of exotic grasses, native grasses, forbs, litter, and bare ground (Wilks's Lambda F_15,179.84 = 2.78, P = 0.001). Variables that contributed to the significant overall effect included litter (F_3,69 = 4.32, P = 0.008) and native grasses (F_3,69 = 6.11, P = 0.001). The multivariate main effect of treatment was significant (Wilks's Lambda F_9,180.25 = 2.04, P = 0.038) for the relative canopy cover of herbaceous species. Relative cover of exotic grasses was 31% higher (P = 0.024) in control than in the prescribed burn treatment. Native grasses relative cover was 30% higher (P = 0.003) in prescribed burn than in the control treatment. We did not detect differences among treatments in the percentage of total woody and succulent plants canopy cover (P = 0.083). Under the environmental conditions at the time of the study, aeration and/or prescribed burning do not increase exotic grasses.     

Grassland Fire Effects on Steel Fence Posts

Rangeland fire effects on flora, fauna, soils, and water have been studied widely. Fire effects information is limited on rangeland developments such as fencing. Fencing is an integral part of rangeland infrastructure and receives much attention when there is a wildfire or even discussion about conducting prescribed fires. Due to known fence age and fire history, we conducted a study on the Oklahoma State University Research Range located near Stillwater, Oklahoma. Five randomly selected individual metal T posts were sampled from a common fence line of known age and fire treatment. The T posts ranged from 4 to 35 yr since fence construction, with fire activity of 0, 1, 3, or 12 prescribed fires and 0, 1, or 2 wildfire occurrences. Each T post was tested in situ at 40 cm, 80 cm, and 120 cm above ground level for hardness and paint adhesion as set forth by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International standards for hot wrought metal fence posts. Our results found no differences in post hardness, with all posts tested being higher than the ASTM minimum standard of 83 Rockwell B Hardness Scale. We also found that paint adhesion between burned and unburned T posts did not vary, with age of post being the only significant predictor variable for adhesion. Overall, our results provide evidence that T posts exposed to numerous fires and fire types did not suffer negative effects. This shows that concerns about wildfire and prescribed fires in grasslands having negative effects on metal T posts are unfounded.     

Contrasting Effects of Long-Term Fire on Sagebrush Steppe Shrubs Mediated by Topography and Plant Community

The role of fire in restoration of sagebrush plant communities remains controversial mainly because of paucity of information from long-term studies. Here, we examine 15-year post-fire responses of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp wyomingensis) and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), the two most abundant native shrubs at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, a protected area in north-central Oregon, USA. Fire effects were studied along gradients of topography and community type through time post-burn. Community types were distinguished as brush, plots dominated by big sagebrush and woodland, plots with a significant presence of Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) trees. Fire reduced big sagebrush cover in brush plots up to 100% and in woodland plots up to 86%. Broom snakeweed cover declined by 92% and 73% in brush plots and woodland plots, respectively. Big sagebrush did not show signs of recovery 15 years after burning regardless of topography and community type while broom snakeweed populations were clearly rebounding and prospering beyond pre-burn levels. Our results showed that an area initially dominated by big sagebrush (cover of big sagebrush 10-20%, cover of broom snakeweed 2-4%) dramatically shifted to an area dominated by broom snakeweed (cover of big sagebrush < 1%, cover of broom snakeweed 5%) in brush-dominated plots. Our results indicated that brush-dominated plots at lower elevation and southern exposures are the least post-fire resilient. We also observed a declining population of big sagebrush on unburned areas, suggesting the lack of post-fire recovery on burned areas was perhaps a result of low seeding potential by extant populations. Although more years of observation are required, these data indicate that recovery time, the encroachment of opportunistic competing shrubs, and the initial condition of vegetation are essential considerations by land managers when prescribing fire in big sagebrush communities.     

放牧对草地植物群落的影响

从放牧强度、放牧制度、家畜采食习性等方面综述了放牧对草地植物群落的影响。适宜的放牧强度可促进草地的健康发展,丰富草地的生物多样性;放牧制度在不同地区的应用有差别,合理的放牧制度有利于维持草地生态平衡和草地生产力的提高。     

放牧对草地植物群落的影响

从放牧强度、放牧制度、家畜采食习性等方面综述了放牧对草地植物群落的影响.适宜的放牧强度可促进草地的健康发展,丰富草地的生物多样性;放牧制度在不同地区的应用有差别,合理的放牧制度有利于维持草地生态平衡和草地生产力的提高.     

围栏封育对草地生物多样陛的影响

利用玛曲沙质次生裸地植物群落丰富度、多样性、均匀度及生产力的抽样调查资料,分析了不同放牧方式下植物群落生物多样性的变化情况,探讨围栏封育对草地生物多样性的影响。结果表明,对草地实行围栏封育,虽有利于群落优势度指数增大,但系统内群落的物种丰富度、均匀度和植物多样性均显著低于适度利用的草地,而适度放牧利用草地的群落物种多样性和丰富度以及植被均匀度均表现为最高。     

增温对荒漠草原不同退化程度草地恢复初期影响的研究

为探讨增温对短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)荒漠草原不同退化程度草地恢复初期的影响,本研究以天然草地为对照,在不同退化程度的自然恢复草地上设置增温处理。增温一年后,在2021年8月测定增温处理下天然草地和不同退化程度草地恢复初期植物的高度、密度和生物量,并计算重要值和植物多样性指数。结果表明：增温降低了天然草地和轻度退化草地的物种数;增温和退化的交互作用极显著降低群落地上生物量和C₃植物生物量(P<0.01),增温显著增加了天然草地的地上生物量,显著降低了重度退化草地的地上生物量(P<0.05);增温和退化的交互作用对物种多样性无显著影响,但增温增加了天然草地的群落多样性,降低了退化草地的群落多样性;增温增强了不同退化程度草地物种多样性与地上生物量和不同功能群生物量的相关性。综上所述,在未来全球持续变暖的趋势下,退化草地的初期恢复将变得更加困难。     

基于物种周转揭示放牧对荒漠草原植物多样性的影响

放牧引起草原生态系统物种更替,进而调控群落植物多样性。然而,放牧过程中物种更替与植物多样性改变间具有怎样的联系,目前缺乏系统的研究。本试验在内蒙古荒漠草原放牧实验平台进行,对群落植物多样性进行了调查。研究发现：随放牧强度的增加,群落物种总数下降了28%～52%且物种组成发生了明显的分异;随放牧强度的增加,群落科的数目和多年生杂类草的物种数逐渐减少,一年生植物的物种数增加,同时群落Simpson指数和Shannon-Weiner指数等显著降低(P<0.05);随放牧强度的增加,物种损失率和周转率显著提高(P<0.05),但物种获得率无显著变化;放牧荒漠草原物种损失率和周转率与植物多样性指数间呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05)。本研究从物种周转的角度揭示了放牧荒漠草原植物多样性降低的驱动机制,为优化荒漠草原管理和利用提供科学支撑。     

围栏封育对伊犁绢蒿种群构件生长和生物量分配的影响

为了解围栏封育对放牧采食目标植物资源分配格局和生态策略的影响,以新疆伊犁绢蒿(Seri phidium transiliense)荒漠草地建群种伊犁绢蒿种群为研究对象,从构件的数量特征、形态可塑性、生物量及其分配格局进行分析.结果表明:围栏封育后伊犁绢蒿构件大小和构件数量显著增加(P＜0.05),地上同化构件和生殖构件分配增加,种群的更新能力和可利用性得到改善;围栏封育后伊犁绢蒿种群采用了生殖投资增加、营养生长减少和储藏分配不改变的生物量分配对策,在围栏封育和发育时期改变后均存在生物量分配的权衡,营养生长和生殖之间存在负相关关系;伊犁绢蒿可以在放牧压力下通过增加其形态性状和生物量分配的可塑性来适应变劣的环境,而围栏封育后,则通过增加生殖生长投资提高其适合度.因此,围栏封育是伊犁绢蒿维持其种群持续更新能力和恢复其在群落中地位的有效手段.     

封育年限对伊犁绢蒿荒漠群落特征及草场质量的影响

以伊犁绢蒿(Seriphidium transiliense)荒漠草地为对象,研究不同封育年限对伊犁绢蒿荒漠草地植被群落特征、物种多样性及草场质量指数的影响.结果表明:伊犁绢蒿荒漠草地总盖度、密度及生物量,随封育时间的增加呈先降后升再降的波动变化,且以封育6年达到最高;围栏封育有利于伊犁绢蒿、木地肤(Kochia prostrata)的生长与恢复,生物量较对照区分别提高了158.63%~221.44%,100%,且封育9年时伊犁绢蒿重要值恢复到首位;封育后群落的物种多样性指数较对照区均有增加,且随封育年限的增加呈现先增后减再增趋势;通过群落物种多样性分析认为,封育9年后伊犁绢蒿荒漠草地尚未恢复到原始顶级状态;以草地的生产力与经济效益来考虑,初步推测封育5年为该区域伊犁绢蒿荒漠草地的最佳围栏时间.     

Effects of Fire Frequency and Intensity on Velvet Mesquite in an Arizona Grassland

Increases of velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina Woot.) in southwestern grasslands might have been caused by livestock consumption of fuels that once burned with sufficient frequency and intensity to kill the trees. However, attempts to control mesquite with fire usually have failed. We measured fire damage and 5 years of postfire recovery for 225 mesquite trees > 1 m tall, following a 2002 wildfire that included grasslands differing in fire history, presence vs. 34-year livestock exclusion, and predominance of native vs. exotic grasses. The fire burned 100% of ground cover in ungrazed areas and 65% on grazed lands. Top-kill was 100% for trees in exotic ungrazed grasslands (the areas with highest fuel loads), 79% for trees in ungrazed native grasslands, and 28% for trees in grazed grasslands. Most top-killed trees produced ground sprouts, so that by 2006 the combined foliage volume from ground sprouts and surviving branches was 78% (± 3.2 SE) of preburn foliage volume in grazed areas, 66% (± 3.3) in ungrazed exotic grasslands, and 57% (± 4.0) in ungrazed native grasslands. Fire damage was greater among surviving trees in ungrazed areas that had burned twice (1987 and 2002) than among those that had burned only once since 1968 (in 2002), especially in native grasslands where postfire foliage recovery for twice-burned trees was only 47% (± 6.3) by 2006. Only 1 of 84 trees died in the area burned once, whereas 12 of 66 (18.2%) died in the area burned twice, including several individuals > 3 m tall. These results suggest that repeated fires likely could have prevented the historic spread of velvet mesquite into southwestern grasslands, but probably could be used to control mesquite today only in areas where abundant herbaceous growth provides sufficient fine fuels.     

载畜率对荒漠草原植物群落影响的研究

对不同载畜率下短花针茅荒漠草原植物群落特征进行比较,结果表明:不同植物种群的盖度对载畜率的响应不同,无芒隐子草盖度在轻度放牧区最大,栉叶蒿盖度在7月份、8月份分别以中度放牧区和轻度放牧区最大;短花针茅、冷蒿、阿氏旋花、细叶葱、木地肤随载畜率增大高度下降明显,猪毛菜高度在四个载畜率下差异均不显著;随着载畜率的增大,植物群落生物量呈下降趋势,且重度放牧与不放牧、轻度放牧有显著差异;随着载畜率的增大,建群种、优势种地位改变不明显,但一年生的猪毛菜重要值增大,在重度放牧区达到最大并占据优势地位;Shannon-wiener指数、Simpson指数、Pielou均匀度指数均以轻度放牧区最大,Shannon-wiener指数、Simpson指数均为轻度放牧>中度放牧>重度放牧>不放牧,且不放牧与轻度放牧差异显著。     

Interactive Effects of Nitrogen Deposition and Grazing on Plant Species Composition in a Serpentine Grassland

The interaction of resource availability and disturbance can strongly affect plant species richness and the spread of exotic plants. Several ecological theories posit that disturbance mediates the richness-reducing effects of increased competition as resource levels rise. In the low-nutrient serpentine grasslands of the San Francisco Bay Area, the fertilizing effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition may threaten native species by promoting nitrophilic exotic grasses. Attempts to mitigate these N deposition effects have focused on cattle grazing as a strategy to reduce exotic grass cover. We simulated realistic N deposition increases with low-level fertilization, manipulated grazing with fencing, and monitored grazing intensity using camera traps in a 4 yr factorial experiment to assess the effects of grazing and N deposition on several measures of native and exotic species dynamics in California's largest serpentine grassland. Our results suggest that native species diversity may increase slightly under low-level N deposition with moderate grazing in this system. However, grazing may not be effective at limiting exotic cover as N accumulates in the future. Examination of treatment trajectories using principal response curves indicated that responses to grazing might be determined more by functional group (forb or grass) than origin (native or exotic). Grazing intensity varied dramatically within the single stocking rate used to manage this ecosystem. Given this variation and the contrasting effects of grazing on different functional groups, more targeted management may be required to improve conservation outcomes.     

变异黄芪和小花棘豆对荒漠草地土壤性状的影响

为明确荒漠草原疯草对发生区土壤性质的影响,通过野外调查取样和室内分析,测定了2种危害最为严重的疯草变异黄芪(Astragalus variabilis)和小花棘豆(Oxytropis glabra)发生地的土壤物理和化学性质。结果表明:变异黄芪和小花棘豆发生区与未发生区土壤质地、含水量、孔隙度和容重无显著差异,发生区土壤碱解氮显著增加;小花棘豆发生区速效磷增加,速效钾降低。变异黄芪和小花棘豆发生地土壤理化性状差异显著。前者土壤砂粒含量较高,而水分、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、有机质含量和pH则较低。变异黄芪和小花棘豆发生区土壤物理性质无明显改变,植物可利用养分有显著变化。变异黄芪比小花棘豆更能适应贫瘠的土壤条件,在荒漠草原潜在分布区面积大,更具危害性。     

刈割对荒漠草原几种牧草贮藏碳水化合物的影响

１９９４年３－１０月在内蒙古达茂联合旗短花针茅荒漠草原研究刈割处理对六种牧宽大不化合物含量的影响，结果表明，刈割引起徼草茎基和根部贮藏碳水化合物含量下降，而当株高８ｃｍ，时留茬２ｃｍ的刈割处理，对贮藏碳水化合物的总体影响不大。     

放牧对荒漠草原植物群落资源分配的影响

本试验于2004年在内蒙古畜牧科学院四子王旗实验基地,对不同放牧强度下短花针茅荒漠草原(Stipa breuiflora desert steppe)主要植物的资源分配进行了研究.结果表明:随着放牧强度的增加,植物各部分的资源分配比例在减少;冷蒿根部的投资增加,地上投资降低,生殖分配部分在轻牧区最高,适当放牧可增加冷蒿种子繁殖的机会.短花针茅和无芒隐子草在重牧区根茎叶上的投资同时减少,这是植物改变自己资源分配趋向,适应生境的一种方式.     

荒漠草原土壤养分和植物群落稳定性对不同管理方式的响应

以宁夏短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)荒漠草原为研究对象,研究不同管理方式(放牧、补播改良和封育)对土壤养分及植物群落稳定性的影响,并分析土壤养分与植物群落稳定性之间的相关性.结果表明:不同管理方式对荒漠草原0～40 cm土壤养分含量影响显著,封育和补播有利于土壤有机质、全氮、速效磷和速效钾含量的积累,中等强度的自由放牧较封育降低了土壤有机质、水解氮和速效钾含量;土壤养分的垂直分布规律并不一致,土壤有机质含量和全氮含量5~15 cm土层高于表层,而速效磷含量和速效钾含量表现为0～5 cm最高.不同管理方式下的荒漠草原植物群落均处于不稳定阶段,相比之下封育5年和7年草地植物群落稳定性较高;群落稳定性与土壤速效钾含量成显著正相关关系,与其他养分含量无显著相关性.