Primary productivity in patches of heterogeneous swards after 12 years of low-intensity cattle grazing

In low-intensity grazing systems, patch grazing leads to a mosaic structure of short (frequently defoliated) and tall (rarely defoliated) patches, with the stocking rate determining the proportion of these patch types on the pasture. Little is known about the long-term effects of patch grazing on the productivity of contrasting sward height patches developed under varying stocking rates. On a 12-year low-intensity cattle pasture we investigated aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and its seasonal variation in different patch types (‘short’, ‘medium’ and ‘tall’) under three stocking rates (‘moderate’, ‘lenient’ and ‘very lenient’) over two years. Additionally, we determined stocks of soil phosphorus, potassium and magnesium as well as soil pH. ANPP was affected by an interaction of patch type and stocking rate and ranged from less than 300 g/m² in short patches under very lenient stocking to more than 1,000 g/m² in medium patches under moderate stocking. In contrast with observations at the start of the experiment, ANPP in short patches was similar to or less than that in medium and tall patches. As topsoil phosphorus and potassium stocks were lowest in short patches, this indicates a long-term redistribution of nutrients by grazing animals, which limits short-patch productivity. Productivity of medium patches increased with stocking rate, and soil potassium concentration showed a similar trend, pointing towards enhanced nutrient cycling under more intensive stocking. We conclude that nutrient redistribution may lead to increasing trade-offs between ecological and agronomic aims in long-term low-intensity grazing systems.     

An investigation into the grazing efficiency of perennial ryegrass varieties

The objective of this study was to compare the grazing efficiency of 30 perennial ryegrass varieties, differing in ploidy and heading date. Plots were grazed by lactating dairy cows and managed under a rotational grazing system with 19 grazing events occurring over two years. Pre-grazing and post-grazing compressed sward heights were measured with a rising plate meter. A mixed model was used to predict the post-grazing sward height of each variety based on year, grazing event, block and pre-grazing sward height. Residual grazed height (RGH) was derived as the difference between the actual and predicted post-grazing sward height and was used as the measure of grazing efficiency. Negative RGH values indicated that the actual herbage removed was greater than that predicted and so indicated a superior grazing efficiency. Varieties differed in their level of grazing efficiency (p < .001), with RGH values ranging from −0.38 to +0.34 cm. Tetraploid varieties exhibited significantly greater grazing efficiency performance than diploids (p < .001), with average RGH values of −0.13 and +0.13 cm respectively. A significant difference in grazing efficiency was found among recommended perennial ryegrass varieties that are not being recorded by mechanically harvested simulated grazing protocols. A variety reappraisal that included grazing efficiency could identify varieties capable of improving on-farm livestock productivity from grass.     

Community structure and carbon and nitrogen storage of sagebrush desert under grazing exclusion in Northwest China

Overgrazing is regarded as one of the key factors of vegetation and soil degradation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China.Grazing exclusion(GE)is one of the most common pathways used to restore degraded grasslands and to improve their ecosystem services.Nevertheless,there are still significant controversies concerning GE’s effects on grassland diversity as well as carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)storage.It remains poorly understood in the arid desert regions,whilst being essential for the sustainable use of grassland resources.To assess the effects of GE on community characteristics and C and N storage of desert plant community in the arid desert regions,we investigated the community structure and plant biomass,as well as C and N storage of plants and soil(0-100 cm depth)in short-term GE(three years)plots and adjacent long-term freely grazing(FG)plots in the areas of sagebrush desert in Northwest China,which are important both for spring-autumn seasonal pasture and for ecological conservation.Our findings indicated that GE was beneficial to the average height,coverage and aboveground biomass(including stems,leaves and inflorescences,and litter)of desert plant community,to the species richness and importance values of subshrubs and perennial herbs,and to the biomass C and N storage of aboveground parts(P<0.05).However,GE was not beneficial to the importance values of annual herbs,root/shoot ratio and total N concentration in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers(P<0.05).Additionally,the plant density,belowground biomass,and soil organic C concentration and C storage in the 0-100 cm soil layer could not be significantly changed by short-term GE(three years).The results suggest that,although GE was not beneficial for C sequestration in the sagebrush desert ecosystem,it is an effective strategy for improving productivity,diversity,and C and N storage of plants.As a result,GE can be used to rehabilitate degraded grasslands in the arid desert regions of Northwest China.     

退化草原恢复中草原植物群落特征的变化

【目的】分析实施禁牧和草畜平衡后的退化草原植被群落特征,研究退化草原生态环境恢复情况,为乌鲁木齐市退化草地的恢复重建提供科学指导。【方法】选取乌鲁木齐市实施禁牧和草畜平衡的天然草地为对象,对不同恢复年限禁牧区和草畜平衡区的植被长势变化及植物群落平均高度、盖度和地上生物量等进行实地调查和分析,研究退化草地在恢复过程中植物群落特征的变化。【结果】(1)实施草原补奖政策后,恢复5 a后较恢复1 a,恢复8 a较恢复5 a草原植物长势明显变好。(2)禁牧区不同草地类型的植被盖度、高度和生物量随恢复时间的延长呈上升趋势,草畜平衡区不同草地类呈现先升高后降低的趋势,在恢复8 a时出现下降趋势,这可能与2018年乌鲁木齐市降雨量较低有关。【结论】通过实施禁牧和草畜平衡,乌鲁木齐市草地退化的现象得到了一定程度的遏制和改善,在政策实施8 a后草地植被恢复较好,但不同草地类型的变化有所差异,需继续加强草地资源监测。     

Dietary habits of grazers influence their suitability as biological controls of fouling macroalgae in ex situ mariculture

The dietary habits of the sea urchin Salmacis sphaeroides and the gastropod Trochus maculatus in ex situ mariculture were examined. Fouling algal assemblages on terracotta tiles were exposed to the grazers and compared. Except for Day 0, the assemblages on Days 2, 13 and 27 differed significantly across treatments. S. sphaeroides rapidly consumed most algae, leaving an assemblage dominated by turf algae and bare tile. T. maculatus primarily fed on green filamentous algae, resulting in an even distribution of other algal functional groups, while control tiles were dominated by green filamentous algae. Using three representative fouling algae species (Bryopsis corymbosa, Hypnea spinella and Lobophora variegata), the consumption rates of both grazers and dietary preferences of S. sphaeroides were examined through a single‐diet and a choice experiment respectively. The single‐diet experiment revealed differential algal consumption rates for S. sphaeroides (H. spinella = B. corymbosa > L. variegata) and T. maculatus (B. corymbosa > H. spinella = L. variegata). The choice experiment showed that S. sphaeroides preferred H. spinella over the other two species. These experiments highlighted the importance of understanding the dietary habits of grazers as this has direct implications on their effectiveness as biological controls of fouling macroalgae in mariculture.     

基于优化的长短时记忆神经网络牧群采食量估测模型

为了能够较为精准的估测牧群的采食量信息,提出一种基于遗传算法(genetic algorithm, GA)和长短时记忆神经网络（long short-term memory,LSTM）的牧群采食量估测模型。首先通过皮尔森系数法分析得出影响牧群的采食量的主要影响因子,以减少输入维度并解决信息冗余问题。在此基础上,构建基于 LSTM 神经网络算法的牧群采食量估测模型,并引入遗传算法来优化LSTM 神经网络模型参数来增加模型的可靠性。最后,利用该模型对牧群采食量进行估测。试验结果表明：该采食量估测模型各评价指标平均绝对误差(mean absolute error,MAE)、平均绝对百分比误差(mean absolute percentage error,MAPE)、以及均方根误差（root mean square error,RMSE）分别为2.982、9.85%和6.108。与单一的LSTM神经网络以及GRU神经网络模型相比,均优于其他模型;且该模型具有较好的估测性能和较强的泛化能力,能够为合理轮牧提供科学指导,对草地保护有一定的应用价值。     

不同轮牧方式对荒漠草原土壤理化性质及草地健康的影响

研究轮牧方式对草地土壤理化性质的影响,对草地科学利用和草地生态保护具有重要意义。以宁夏面积最大的荒漠草原为研究对象,通过放牧试验,研究围封禁牧、连续放牧、二区、四区和六区轮牧对0—40cm土壤理化性质的影响,并运用模糊评判法对草地健康状况进行评价。结果表明:(1)六区和四区轮牧土壤粉粒含量和含水率较高;轮牧方式对土壤容重和孔隙度影响较小;四区和六区轮牧有利于土壤物理结皮、地衣—藻类结皮维持。(2)连续放牧的土壤有机质含量最低,全氮含量以禁牧最低;速效氮含量在四区轮牧最高,六区轮牧下速效磷钾含量最高。(3)土壤性状间存在一定的相关性,但草地植物生物量与多数土壤性状相关性不明显。(4)六区轮牧的健康指数最高,连续放牧的健康指数最低。研究认为,研究区草原以六区轮牧为宜。     

放牧与围栏内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮变化及微生物群落结构PLFA分析

以内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原为研究对象,采用氯仿熏蒸法和磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）分析方法研究了放牧与围栏条件下内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量和群落结构特征的变化情况。研究表明放牧与围栏草地土壤微生物生物量和群落结构差异显著。氯仿熏蒸法分析结果表明内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳的含量介于166.6-703.5mg·kg^-1之间,微生物生物量氮含量介于30.34-92.15mg·kg^-1之间,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮最高,大针茅草原次之,克氏针茅草原则最低。放牧条件下,贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮显著低于围栏草地,克氏针茅草原则无显著变化。PLFA分析结果显示,内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落PLFAs种类、含量丰富,共检测出28种PLFA生物标记磷脂脂肪酸,并且以直链饱和脂肪酸和支链饱和脂肪酸为主,相对含量占总量的2/3左右,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物含量最丰富,其围栏样地土壤的PLFA含量达到27.3nmol·g-1,大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原依次降低。围栏条件下,各类型草原土壤细菌脂肪酸与总PLFA含量均显著高于放牧草地,真菌脂肪酸含量则因草原类型不同各有差异;放牧导致各类型草原革兰氏阳性细菌PLFAs/革兰氏阴性细菌PLFAs（GPPLFAs/GNPLFAs）比值显著降低,而除了克氏针茅草原,细菌PLFAs/真菌PLFAs比值则显著升高。PLFAs主成分分析表明,放牧和围栏处理对内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落结构产生影响,且围栏处理的影响程度大于放牧处理。经相关分析表明,氯仿熏蒸法和PLFA分析方法之间有很好的一致性,且土壤微生物PLFAs与土壤有机质、全磷、硝态氮显著相关。     

放牧对小嵩草草甸土壤酶活性及土壤环境因素的影响

观测了放牧对高寒小嵩草草甸土壤酶活性及土壤环境因素的影响,结果表明:①随着放牧压力的增大,植被盖度、地上生物量、土壤有机质、全氮、硝态氮、全磷、有效磷、土壤水分明显下降,而地下生物量、土壤容重、pH及根土比呈现增大趋势,不同放牧处理间植物群落特征及土壤理化特性显示出明显的差异(P0.05);②纤维素分解酶、多酚氧化酶、脲酶、蛋白酶、碱性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性均随放牧压力增大而下降,只有过氧化氢酶以轻牧最高,各处理间上述土壤酶活性差异程度不同;③随着土壤深度的增加,土壤水分含量、地下生物量、根土比、土壤有机质及氮、磷养分等明显下降,而土壤容重和pH逐渐增大,且不同层次之间存在显著的差异(P0.05);④除过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶外,其它土壤酶活性随土壤深度的加深显著减小。