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.     

Effects of Livestock Grazing Management on Grassland Birds in a Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie Ecosystem

Grassland birds have undergone substantial population declines throughout much of their historic ranges in North America. Most of the remaining grassland bird habitat is restricted to rangelands managed for livestock production, so grazing management has strong implications for grassland bird conservation efforts. We conducted 1 830 point-count surveys at 305 sites during 2016–2017 to evaluate the relative effects of three livestock grazing systems on the abundance and community composition of grassland birds in a northern mixed-grass prairie ecosystem of eastern Montana, United States. Our objectives were to 1) evaluate effects of grazing management on abundance and community composition of grassland obligate birds, focusing specifically on grazing systems, stocking rates, and interactions with rangeland productivity; 2) evaluate the importance of local vegetation characteristics for grassland birds within grazing systems; and 3) assess the effectiveness of rest-rotation grazing to create patch-heterogeneity in rangeland vegetation through the alteration of structural components and the response of grassland birds to these treatments. Overall, we found inconsistent responses in abundances of grassland birds relative to livestock grazing systems and no discernable differences among grazing systems relative to community composition. However, local abundances were often driven by interactions between grazing system and rangeland production potential, suggesting the effects of livestock grazing management were generally mediated by rangeland productivity. In addition, associations between avian abundance and grazing management parameters (e.g., stocking rate) were species specific. Ubiquitous guidelines for livestock grazing systems may be inappropriate for grassland bird conservation efforts in the northern mixed-grass prairie, and high stocking rates may negatively impact populations of dense-grass obligate grassland birds in this region.     

江西南矶湿地自然保护区春季鸟类群落多样性研究

2011年3—4月,在鄱阳湖区南矶湿地自然保护区通过样线法对当地鸟类群落多样性进行了调查,共记录到68种鸟类,隶属于12目27科,其中冬候鸟36种,留鸟19种,夏候鸟8种,旅鸟5种;从区系成份上看古北种38种,为优势类群,占调查到鸟类种数的55．88％;广布种、东洋种分别为22种、8种。在草洲、居民区、林地、水域沼泽4种典型生境中,鸟类群落多样性指数H’水域镕泽〉H’林地〉H’草洲〉H’居民区,均匀度指数E水域沼泽〉E林地〉E草洲〉E居民区;在相似性方面,K草洲一水域沼泽〉K林地．居民区〉K草洲一林地〉发;洲一居民区〉K林地一水域沼泽〉K居民区一水域沼泽     

Rangeland Health Assessment: A Useful Tool for Linking Range Management and Grassland Bird Conservation?

Large-scale loss and degradation of North American native prairie coupled with sharp declines in grassland bird populations call for a clear understanding of the effects of livestock production on bird habitat selection. Grassland birds typically select breeding habitat based on a suite of structural and community vegetation features shaped by grazing. Rangeland health indices are a tool for assessing grassland structure and community composition that may offer biologists and range managers common language to achieve grassland bird recovery goals. We used point-count surveys, vegetation measures, and indices of rangeland health to examine bird-habitat relationships on native grassland in southwestern Saskatchewan for 10 grassland bird species. We used an information theoretic approach to compare the support of three hypotheses explaining variation in bird abundance as a function of local vegetation characteristics: bird abundance is best explained by 1) vegetation structure, 2) vegetation structure heterogeneity, or 3) plant community. Vegetation structure variables were present in top-ranking models (i.e., models within four Akaike information criterion units of top model) for eight species and solely comprised top-ranking models for Baird’s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus), horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), McCown’s longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii), and savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis). Structural heterogeneity variables were present in top-ranked models for grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), and western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Plant composition variables solely comprised top-ranking models for clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pallida) and were present in top-ranked models for grasshopper sparrow and vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). Our results indicate that vegetation structure variables, namely litter mass, vegetation volume, and bare ground cover, best explain variation in bird abundance. Although the rangeland health index received little support as a predictor of bird abundance, vegetation structure components of the index could be used to communicate grazing management guidelines that maintain grassland bird habitat.     

伊犁河谷围封草地群落组成及植物多样性的变化

以伊犁河谷昭苏马场春秋牧场不同围封年限草地为对象,对围封条件下退化草地自然恢复过程中草地植被特征及物种多样性的变化进行了初步分析。结果表明,随着围封年限的延长和立地条件的改善,草地植物群落由未围封的异株百里香（Thymus marschalianus）+草原苔草（Carex liparocarpos）逐步向适应当地气候条件的针茅（Stipa capillata）+草原苔草（Carex liparocarpos）方向演进。随围封年限的延长,草地植物的群落高度、生物量围封5年时达到最大,之后降低;而群落盖度和优良牧草比例继续增加,围封6年时达到最大;丰富度指数围封6年时达到最大,与其它样地之间差异显著（P<0.05）;多样性指数和均匀度指数都是在围封1年时达到最大;优势度指数围封6年时达到最大;不同围封年限草地之间的相似性指数都在0.65以上;围封6年与围封5年草地的相似性指数最大,说明草地恢复到一定阶段后群落趋于稳定,未围封草地受放牧干扰,物种变化波动较大,与围封草地群落的相似性指数较小。     

沙化和人工植被重建对高寒草地土壤细菌群落特征的影响

土壤微生物群落特征指示着草地的质量和健康状况。本研究以青海省贵南县的天然草地（NG）、沙化草地（DG）、草本人工恢复草地（AG）和灌木人工恢复草地（AS）4种草地类型为研究对象,采用qPCR和Illumina MiSeq高通量扩增子测序技术研究了土壤细菌群落生物量、多样性及其结构的变化,结合植被和土壤属性剖析了高寒草地土壤细菌群落演变的关键影响因子及其贡献。结果表明：草地沙化显著（P<0.05）降低了土壤细菌群落的生物量和α多样性,人工植被重建则促进了土壤细菌群落生物量和α多样性的恢复,22年后基本达到未退化前的水平。草地沙化显著（P<0.05）增加了芽单胞菌门（Gemmatimonadota）的相对丰度,而变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和浮霉菌门（Planctomycetota）的相对丰度则显著降低（P<0.05）;人工植被重建促进了优势细菌门逐渐向NG方向演变,22年后绝大部分优势细菌的相对丰度基本恢复到未退化之前的状态。然而,DG、AG和AS与NG的土壤细菌群落结构相似性不高,而AG和AS的群落结构则高度相似。土壤细菌群落结构与绝大多数植被和土壤理化指标显著 （P<0.05）正相关,植被属性对其群落结构变化的解释度（10.0%）比土壤物理属性（6.3%）和化学属性（1.9%）更高,植被与土壤所有指标共解释了72.0%的土壤细菌群落结构的变化,表明植被和土壤通过相互作用共同决定了高寒草地土壤细菌群落结构的演变。因此,加强对植被和土壤的保护,防止草地退化,并对沙化草地进行人工植被重建,对于保护和恢复青藏高原高寒草地土壤细菌群落具有重要的生态意义,而选择利用灌木或草本进行人工植被重建对表层土壤细菌群落的影响区别不大。     

晋北重度盐碱化草地群落斑块的类型划分

通过研究围栏封育3年的晋北重度盐碱草地的群落斑块类型,为采取合理的措施和选择适宜的植物改良盐碱草地提供理论依据。试验根据斑块内的指示性植物或高度聚集的植物种群且轮廓明显选取15个斑块进行初步分类,另随机选择斑块特征和界限不明显的20个斑块采用聚类分析法划分斑块群落类型,调查每个斑块的群落特征和基本形状,计算斑块形状指数和分维指数确定斑块类型。结果表明:晋北重度盐碱草地群落斑块可划分为光碱斑、碱蒿(Artemisia anethifolia)斑块、芦苇(Phrag-mites australis)斑块、碱茅(Puccinellia tenuiflora)斑块、虎尾草(Chioris virgata)斑块和赖草(Leymussecalinus)斑块等6种类型。斑块形状指数和分维指数从小到大的顺序依次是光碱斑、碱蒿斑块、芦苇斑块、碱茅斑块、虎尾草斑块和赖草斑块,反映了各斑块受盐碱干扰程度依次降低。     

敕勒川草原生态恢复群落动态演替

为揭示退化草原生态恢复过程群落动态变化规律,在阴山南麓敕勒川草原开展生态恢复试验,通过连续10年监测,研究不同年际退化草原生态恢复物种数、个体数、地上生物量和物种多样性变化,比较人工恢复、自然恢复与原生植被之间的物种多样性差异。结果表明：随着恢复时间的增加,草地Margarlef指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数均出现先增加后减少再稳定的趋势,而Pielou均匀度指数呈现先减少后增加趋势;不同恢复方式下,自然恢复样地和原生样地多样性指数均显著高于人工恢复样地(P<0.05)。人工干扰引导自然恢复能够促进退化草原生态恢复,提高植物多样性,加速恢复演替进程。     

松嫩平原不同扰动生境土壤种子库的比较

调查了松嫩平原玉米地群落、休闲荒地杂草群落、人工草地群落和盐碱化草地群落的土壤种子库的组成及其空间结构,并对其物种的多样性、库存量与人为因素的相关性进行了分析。发现人为因素较小的盐碱化单优种群落的物种多样性指数都普遍较小,而在人为因素较多的样地中,物种多样性指数大体上与人为干扰呈正相关。对于库存量的分析,为了消除其他因素对库存量的影响,进行了同生境的不同层间的比较,发现休闲荒地杂草群落、沙打旺群落、和苜蓿群落库存量都是逐层减小。因此,一定范围内的人为干扰对增加种子库存量以及物种多样性是有利的。     

喀斯特土层厚度异质性对草地群落结构和优势种生长的影响

喀斯特地区破碎陡峭的地形地貌和严重缺乏的土壤资源,使得该地区的土壤分布在空间上具有强烈的异质性。土壤是植物获取水分和养分的主要途径,土壤分布的不均匀会直接影响到植被的生长和分布。因此,选择重庆典型喀斯特山地草地植物群落为研究对象,采用样地调查法,对不同土层厚度生境中(0~15cm、15~25cm和25cm)草地的群落结构、物种分布和优势种生长状况等展开研究。结果表明,1)研究区域内草地群落的优势种主要是一年生、二年生或多年的草本植物,随生境土层厚度增加,群落的优势植物中逐渐有木本植物的出现,群落优势种的优势地位也随土层厚度的增加越来越稳定;2)群落的物种丰富度指数、物种多样性指数和均匀度指数随生境土层厚度改变均未发生显著变化(P0.05);3)非禾本科植物,主要是菊科和豆科的物种数目和重要值随土层厚度的增加而增加,禾本科物种数目随土层厚度增加而减少,重要值无明显变化;4)优势种荩草(Arthraxon hispidus)的株高、叶面积和地上部生物量均随土层厚度增加而表现出显著上升的趋势(P0.05)。可见,随生境土层厚度增加,喀斯特草地的群落结构表现出越来越成熟和稳定的趋势,优势种的生长受到显著促进,但各科的优势度和群落的物种多样性未发生显著变化。     

北方农牧交错带赖草草地斑块的土壤化学计量特征对植物多样性的影响

本试验通过对北方农牧交错带盐碱化赖草（Leymus secalinus）草地的光碱斑、碱蒿斑块、芦苇斑块、碱茅斑块、虎尾草斑块、赖草斑块6种草地斑块植被特征以及土壤理化性质的研究，分析草地斑块土壤化学计量比对赖草草地在演替过程中植物多样性和地上生物量的影响，为进一步对草地植被恢复与盐碱化草地治理提供科学依据。结果表明：不同草地斑块的Shannon-wiener指数、Margalef指数和地上生物量的大小顺序均为赖草斑块 > 虎尾草斑块 > 碱茅斑块 > 芦苇斑块 > 碱蒿斑块 > 光碱斑，Pielous指数大小依次为赖草斑块 > 虎尾草斑块 > 芦苇斑块 > 碱茅斑块 > 碱蒿斑块 > 光碱斑。以草地斑块的植被特征代表样点进行冗余分析（Redundancy analysis，RDA），得出造成不同斑块植物多样性特征分异的主要因子为土壤含水量、土壤碳磷比、土壤氮磷比、土壤容重和土壤碳氮比。可见，北方农牧交错带盐碱化赖草草地斑块的植物多样性特征主要受土壤含水量和土壤化学计量特征两方面因素的影响，随着土壤含水量和土壤化学计量特征的增加，草地斑块的植物多样性有增加的趋势。     

Compositional Shifts in Forb and Butterfly Communities Associated with Kentucky Bluegrass Invasions

Rangeland management strategies impact biodiversity, the quality and quantity of ecosystem services, and overall rangeland resiliency. Previous management strategies, coupled with climate change, have led to widespread invasion by Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis; bluegrass) in the Northern Great Plains, United States. Bluegrass invasions are expected to have detrimental impacts on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services provided by rangelands. Yet none have investigated how bluegrass invasions influence pollinator populations, which are a prominent conservation concern and provide ecosystem services. We measured the impact of bluegrass invasion on mixed-grass prairie forb and butterfly communities. Obligate grassland butterflies, those that rely on grasslands, decreased as bluegrass cover increased, including the threatened Hesperia dacotae. Conversely, the abundance of facultative grassland butterflies, those found in grasslands but not fully dependent on them for their life history, increased as bluegrass increased. Moreover, plant species diversity and flowering forb species richness decreased as bluegrass cover increased. Overall, bluegrass invasion led to butterfly and plant community simplification, signaling a loss of biodiversity and potentially ecosystem services. Our research is the first to quantify how grassland butterflies and the floral resources they depend on are negatively impacted by bluegrass invasion. Resource managers should adopt management strategies that reduce bluegrass cover and improve nectar and host resources for obligate grassland butterflies. Management choices that removed disturbance regimes inherent to the Northern Great Plains (i.e., fire and grazing) led to bluegrass dominance in the region. Therefore, restoring disturbance regimes may be one way to reduce bluegrass and benefit pollinator populations.     

毛乌素沙化草地植被群落特征及物种多样性对不同生态修复措施的响应

[目的] 研究不同生态修复措施对毛乌素沙化草地植被群落特征及物种多样性的影响。[方法] 以围封作为对照（Ⅳ）,采用施肥（Ⅰ）、补播（Ⅱ）、喷藻（Ⅲ）、藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）和施肥+补播（Ⅵ）措施对内蒙古鄂尔多斯市乌审旗苏力德苏木沙化草地进行修复,通过监测植被群落特征及计算物种多样性指标,评价其对生态修复措施的响应。[结果] 施肥（Ⅰ）、补播（Ⅱ）、喷藻（Ⅲ）、藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）和施肥+补播（Ⅵ）处理区的植被群落平均高度均显著（P<0.05）高于对照区（Ⅳ）;藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）处理区的植被群落盖度、密度和地上生物量显著（P<0.05）高于其他5个处理区;施肥（Ⅰ）处理区的植物种类最多,共20种;补播（Ⅱ）处理区最少,共10种;喷藻（Ⅲ）、施肥（Ⅰ）和藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）处理区的Margarlef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数较高,显著（P<0.05）高于其他处理组。[结论] 不同修复措施对于沙化草地植被群落特征及物种多样性均有显著影响。喷藻或拌藻、施肥等具有养分输入作用的修复措施对短期内修复沙化草地具有显著效果,修复后植物种类、物种丰富度明显增加,植被群落变得相对复杂。     

旅游干扰对呼伦贝尔景区草地植物群落及土壤线虫群落多样性的影响

[目的]研究旅游活动对呼伦贝尔市呼和诺尔景区植物群落及土壤线虫群落多样性的影响。[方法]依据游客聚集程度及草地植被踩踏状况,将景区分为重度干扰区、中度干扰区、轻度干扰区、围封区;比较4个不同旅游干扰区域草地植物的群落高度、多度、盖度,以及土壤线虫的种类、数量、群落多样性。[结果]重度干扰区的Margarlef丰富度指数和Simpson优势度指数与其他3个区域均存在显著（P<0.05）差异,重度干扰区的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数与中度干扰区、轻度干扰区存在显著（P<0.05）差异。共分离土壤线虫6 444条,56属,平均密度为437条/100 g干土;食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫、植物寄生线虫、杂食/捕食线虫的数量分别占分离线虫总量的56.24%、20.79%、18.72%、4.25%;重度干扰区、中度干扰区、轻度干扰区、围封区分离出的线虫优势属的个体数分别占各自区域内线虫总捕获个体数的70.17%、67.47%、39.72%、48.42%。围封区0~10 cm土层线虫数量显著（P<0.05）高于其他3个区域,轻度干扰区、围封区土壤线虫属数显著（P<0.05）高于重度干扰区及中度干扰区;0~10 cm及10~20 cm土层轻度干扰区土壤线虫多样性指数H′值显著（P<0.05）高于其他3个区域;0~10 cm土层围封区土壤线虫MI值显著（P<0.05）高于其他3个区域;0~10 cm土层围封区NCR值显著（P<0.05）低于其他3个区域;围封区BI值显著（P<0.05）高于重度干扰区。[结论]旅游活动改变了该景区内草地植物群落的组成以及多样性,对土壤线虫群落的数量、多样性及功能结构产生了影响。适度的人为干扰有利于植物及土壤线虫群落的正向演替,围封处理有利于退化草原的恢复。重度旅游干扰的草原旅游活动对植物多样性和土壤线虫多样性有明显的负面效应,需要进行管控及土壤恢复。     

Grazing Systems Do Not Affect Bird Habitat on a Sandhills Landscape

Grassland birds are declining faster than any other guild of birds in North America, in part because of degradation of their breeding habitat. Rangeland managers recommend increasing heterogeneity to improve biodiversity; however, on privately owned rangelands, beef production likely decreases heterogeneity on the landscape. One suggestion has been to use multiple grazing systems across a landscape to increase heterogeneity and provide benefits for avian biodiversity, but there is little research to support this recommendation. Thus, our goal was to examine heterogeneity and songbird abundance in relation to grazing systems used by private producers in a large, intact rangeland region. We measured vegetation structure and conducted avian surveys in the Nebraska Sandhills on 11 management units with five different grazing systems, including season-long continuous, deferred rotation, management intensive, dormant season only, and a fixed rotation. On each management unit we assessed the relationship between vegetation structure or songbird abundance and potential management effects, such as grazing system, stocking rate, and management intensity. Season of use and stocking rate were the most common sources of variation in vegetation structure and songbird abundance. Grazing system did not explain variation in vegetation structure or bird abundance, except for heterogeneity in live grass cover, litter cover, shrub cover, and abundance of field sparrows. Vegetation structure varied across the landscape we sampled, but the range of heterogeneity was narrow. Thus, managers should not assume that using a variety of grazing systems across a landscape will inevitably result in heterogeneity of vegetation structure. Rather, managers should focus on creating contrasting vegetation structure in large areas to increase large-scale heterogeneity. This may be achieved through the application of more extreme management practices (e.g., long-term heavy grazing and long-term rest or patch-burn grazing) so that a wider variety of vegetation composition and structure is available to support biodiversity.     

绵羊放牧绢蒿荒漠草地植物群落多样性及其环境解释

对天山北坡放牧条件下的绢蒿草地进行野外调查,以探讨植物群落物种组成、多样性特征及其与环境因子之间的关系。结果表明:1)绵羊放牧过程中形成了明显的放牧强度梯度,草地利用率适中。通过除趋势对应分析 (DCA)将放牧区内的植物群落划分为8个类型,各类型植物群落的物种多样性有显著差异,且群落间存在异质性;2)采用除趋势对应典范分析法(DCCA)中的前项选择,对所获取的9个环境因子进行筛选,最终土壤有机质含量、粪便量、放牧强度、凋落物生物量、海拔、坡向等6个环境因子成为决定物种分布和群落结构组成的主导因素。DCCA排序结果反映出了实际的生态意义,有机质、放牧强度、粪便量在第一排序轴有明显的梯度变化,而坡向和凋落物则在第2轴上呈现出明显梯度变化,物种和群落也沿着上述环境要素的梯度变化而依次分布,很好地解释了放牧条件下绢蒿荒漠草地物种、群落与环境条件之间的关系。     

黄土高原地区不同类型天然草地群落学特征

摘要：根据气候-植被特征,选取森林草原、典型草原和荒漠草原3种不同草地类型的封育和放牧草地进行群落特征研究,旨在分析黄土高原天然草地的群落分布规律。结果表明,荒漠草原的盖度、平均高度、个体数和物种数均显著低于其他两类草地（P≤0.05）,森林草原的样方内个体数和平均高度显著高于典型草原,而后者则在盖度和物种数上优于前者;群落生物量表现为典型草原＞森林草原＞荒漠草原,且各草地类型之间差异显著（P≤0.05）;荒漠草原的多样性明显低于其他两个草地类型,典型草原和森林草原的物种多样性表现相类似。通过利用方式间的比较发现,封育措施对荒漠草原的植物群落结构有一定的改善作用,对于典型草原和荒漠草原,封育措施增加了其盖度和平均高度,但未达到显著水平（P≤0.05）。     

草原植被恢复对矿区排土场土壤线虫群落多样性的影响

矿区排土场是草原被开垦利用的产物,植被恢复对已破坏草原生态系统具有重要意义。线虫是草原地下生态系统的主要组成部分,对土壤环境反应敏感,可作为一种良好的指示性生物。通过对人工植被恢复8年、人工植被恢复4年、无植被恢复4年的矿区排土场和自然状态下的天然草地中0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层中线虫的数量、种类和群落结构多样性开展研究,旨在揭示草原植被恢复对矿区排土场土壤线虫的影响。结果表明：试验区共分离出土壤线虫51个属,不同草原植被恢复方式影响土壤线虫种类及优势度,不同恢复方式下土壤线虫的优势属有一定差异;草原植被恢复方式影响土壤线虫数量及营养类群,不同草原植被恢复方式下土壤线虫数量及属数从大到小依次为：人工恢复8年>人工恢复4年>天然草地>无恢复4年;人工恢复4年区及8年区捕食/杂食类线虫数量高于无恢复区,整个地下土壤线虫多样性增大;无恢复4年区的H′多样性指数显著（P<0.05）低于其他3种处理,反映出草原植被恢复对土壤线虫群落成熟稳定的作用,揭示了土壤恢复状况。研究结果为矿区排土场生态恢复措施的选择和实施提供了理论依据。     

三江源区“黑土滩”次生植被形成的三阶段物种生态位与毒杂草繁殖特征

为了改善和治理青藏高原三江源区"黑土滩",本文利用生态位理论,以青藏高原三江源区"黑土滩"毒杂草次生植被形成三阶段群落特征为基础,分析了群落结构变化及毒杂草植被形成机理,提出了"剩余空间"概念。结果表明：随着"黑土滩"三阶段的演替,可食性牧草重要值降低。株型较小、对资源需求少的莎草科和禾本科物种与株型较大、对资源需求多的大型毒杂草相比,存活株数相对较多,生态位相对较宽。随着草地秃斑面积扩增,相似生活型的宽生态位物种会高度重叠,留出"剩余空间"。具有无性繁殖特征的多年生毒杂草会充分利用"剩余空间",加剧土壤养分分布的不均匀性,增大土壤的空间异质性,从而形成"水热空洞效应"。本文提出了草地恢复可利用毒杂草作为先锋植物占据"剩余空间",再通过人工干预,逐步改良"黑土滩"的治理思路。     

白银地区天然草地组成及其退化特征的调查分析

对白银地区天然草地植物区系组成、草地类型结构以及退化草地物种数、生活型构成、盖度、生物量等植被特征进行了系统调查与分析,研究了不同退化演替时期草地群落结构特征的空间变化规律.总结出该区有草地种子植物29科80属175种,天然草地7类;草地构成较单一,多为寡属(种)的科,且科分布集中,属、种分布分散.随草地退化程度的加剧,从初期到后期,高位芽植物最先消失,草地植物群落物种数和优势种密度急剧下降,群落盖度、豆/禾(生物量)比、鲜草产量与可食草产量百分数均呈逐渐下降趋势.