Modelling land cover transitions: A solution to the problem of spatial dependence in data

Raster-based spatial land cover transition models (LCTMs) are widely used in landscape ecology. However, many LCTMs do not account for spatial dependence of the input data, which may artificially fragment the output spatial configuration. We demonstrate the consequences of ignoring spatial dependence, thus assigning probabilities randomly in space, using a simple LCTM. We ran the model from four different initial conditions with distinct spatial configurations and results indicated that, after 20 simulation steps, all of them converged towards the spatial configuration of the random data set. From an ecological perspective this is a serious problem because ecological data often exhibit distinct spatial configuration related to ecological processes. As a solution, we propose an approach (region approach) that accounts for spatial dependence of LCTM input data. Underlying spatial dependence was used to apply spatial bias to probability assignment within the model. As a case study we applied a region approach to a Vegetation Transition Model (VTM); a semi-Markovian model that simulates forest succession. The VTM was applied to approximately 500,000 ha of boreal forest in Ontario, at 1 ha pixel resolution. When the stochastic transition algorithms were applied without accounting for spatial dependence, spatial configuration of the output data became progressively more fragmented. When the VTM was applied using the region approach to account for spatial dependence output fragmentation was reduced. Accounting for spatial dependence in transition models will create more reliable output for analyzing spatial patterns and relating those patterns to ecological processes.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

鸭疫里氏杆菌形态特征的电镜观察

自鸭传染性浆膜炎的病死鸭中分离鉴定的鸭疫里氏杆菌(RA)Ⅰ、Ⅱ型两个菌株，用负染法和超薄切片法制备样品，于透射电镜下进行观察。结果观察到约占1／3的RA具有特殊的形态结构：在细菌的顶端或侧面有1～2个与菌体相连的芽状赘生物，有的也能从菌体上脱落下来。它在超薄切片中的大小约为菌体的1／3～1／5，能观察到其内部也具有类似菌体内部的结构。且具有类似菌体的“细胞壁”，类似于核体部分的结构位于“细胞壁”的一侧。而用相同的方法制作的鸭大肠杆菌(E．cozi)对照样品，却见不到这种特殊的形态结构。说明这种形态特征可能是RA特有的。     

园林景观中的植物色彩设计——以青岛石老人生态旅游区植被改造为例

通过对青岛石老人生态旅游区的植被改造规划的分析,探讨植物不同器官和不同季节的色彩变化在园林景观规划设计中的意义。从生态旅游区的整体色彩效果出发,考虑背景色彩,着重应用原有的绿色基调,调配点缀不同的植物及色彩变化,营造丰富多彩和富于变化的植物色彩景观。     

基于NDVI估算植被体散射的土壤水分反演研究

[目的]为通过植被指数方法进行土壤水分估算和旱情监测提供依据。[方法]以新疆渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲为研究区,雷达数据和光学遥感数据相结合,对干旱区绿洲进行土壤和植被水分信息的提取。[结果]在同期光学遥感影像数据提取叶面积指数基础上,利用简化的“MIMIcs模型”从雷达数据总的后向散射中去除植被的影响,建立土壤后向散射系数与土壤含水量之间的关系。[结论]主被动遥感数据结合在干旱区土壤水分反演时去除植被影响有较好的效果。     

植被信息提取过程中ETM+遥感影像融合和分类试验

利用HIS、PCA、Brovey及小波变换4种图像融合方法对南京地区植被信息提取过程中ETM 遥感影像进行融合和分类试验。从信息量、高分辨率信息的融入度和分类精度三方面,对融合图像进行光谱质量和空间结构信息的定量评价。试验结果表明,Brovey变换更适合植被信息提取时的ETM 图像融合,并能够较明显提高影像的分类精度。     

First record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grewia tenax</Emphasis> (Forssk.) Fiori in northern Oman,a valuable fruit producing shrub

Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori is a wild fruit species with multiple uses in different parts of the Tropics and Subtropics. It is common on the Arabian Peninsula and has also been recorded in southern Oman. To date, no record of the species exists for the northern part of this country. To close this distributional gap, three sites in the al-Hajar mountains of northern Oman were surveyed in summer 2005 and spring 2006. During the botanical fieldwork, several flowering and fruiting plants were found in Wadi Bani Awf and Wadi Muaydin. In the latter area G. tenax fruits are eaten by local people. In addition to G. tenax, nine woody perennials with edible fruit were recorded. In northern Oman, fruits of Sideroxylon mascatense (A. DC.) Penn. and Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. are widely collected and sold on local markets. G. tenax shrubs were found to be heavily grazed indicating its high palatability to goats and sheep. The occurrence of G. tenax in the al-Hajar mountains is a new record to the flora of northern Oman and calls for further investigation of botanists and germplasm collectors.     

The Relationship Between Vegetation Characteristics and Altitudes in Transitional Permafrost Zone in Xidatan,Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Many studies showed that permafrost has profound influence on alpine ecosystem. However, former researches were mainly focused on typical points by temporal scales. There were few studies about the correlation between vegetation characteristics and different altitudes covering a large region in spatial pattern, especially in transitional permafrost(TP). There were continuous permafrost(CP) discontinuous permafrost(DCP) and seasonal frozen ground(SFG) in this study region. The types of permafrost changed from SFG to DCP, and finally become CP as the altitudes of Xidatan increase. In this paper, 112 845 points interpreted by HJ1-B(environment and disaster monitoring and prediction small satellite constellation), vegetation investigation points, thawing layer thickness research sites, ground temperature and water content observation plots were used to examine the spatial pattern of vegetation which were located in different altitudes in Xidatan, a typical TP region, in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Vegetation characteristics, soil moisture content(SMC) and thaw depths were collected in 15 August to 25 August2012. Characteristics of vegetation were mainly represented by fractional vegetation cover(FVC) derived from the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI), as well as above ground biomass(AGB). In this paper, we analyzed that the distinction of vegetation characteristics in each range through statistics data. These ranges were divided by varied altitudes. For examples, the ranges were divided into 50 m or 100 m. In this study we use a large area plots method to further discuss the relationship between the features of vegetation and the different regions of permafrost based on altitudes shifts in Xidatan. A diagram described the vegetation characteristics variability with rising altitudes in transitional permafrost region was drawn in this paper. Our results illustrated the FVCs first increased in SFG region and then decreased in DCP zone slowly, and in CP region FVCs soared then dropped dramatically. With the altitudes increased, the curve of FVCs indicated a parabolic distribution except a little difference in the first 200 m range.     

巢湖低丘山区典型植被群落与土壤环境因子特征研究

本文系统调查了巢湖低丘山区5种典型植被类型,即弃耕地、灌木林、人工马尾松林、草地以及次生马尾松林植被群落学特征、土壤养分状况,并分析了巢湖低丘山区典型植被群落与土壤环境因子的关系.研究结果表明:弃耕地显示了最高的植物物种数,其次为人工马尾松林和灌木林,草地物种数最低,平均仅为4种.总盖度以草地最高,达到95％,其次为次生马尾松林和灌木林,人工马尾松林总盖度最低.此外,弃耕地显示了最高的生物多样性与均匀度指数,其次为灌木林,而草地多样性指数和均匀度指数均最低.弃耕地土壤养分含量最高:次生马尾松林表层土壤有机碳、总氮、总磷与有效氮高于灌木林与草地,显示了较明显的土壤养分随植被演替过程的积累效应.相关分析表明生物多样性指数和均匀度指数与土壤养分状况呈良好的正相关关系,表明这一地区植被恢复处于演替发展阶段.     

Improvement of direct tree seeding with cover crops in afforestation: Microclimate and resource availability induced by vegetation composition

The low cost of direct tree seeding makes it increasingly useful for afforestation. However, the success of the technique is often unpredictable due to a series of different adverse biotic and abiotic factors. A plant cover with low competitive ability towards resources could offer a natural alternative to the herbicides currently used to control weeds. The effects of cover plants on availability of resources and microclimate were studied in a field experiment in the central France during three years. An experiment design crossing three mixtures of tree seeds with four vegetation compositions (a bare soil, flora of the meadow, and two mixtures of cover plants) was established and repeated randomly in three blocks in a meadow. Vegetation composition, tree seedling emergence, light availability, soil water content, and temperatures under each treatment were measured. The vegetation composition of the meadow stayed stable, with grass species dominating. The cover plants sown disappeared rapidly after one or two years. Outcome of direct seeding of trees depended on the vegetation treatment. Bare soil gave the highest emergence rate while meadow vegetation gave the lowest, with the mixture of cover plants being intermediate. Light availability and soil water content were very low under the meadow vegetation but were very high on the bare soil, again with cover plant mixtures being intermediate. This study confirms that a bare soil obtained by herbicide is a secure way to ensure tree seedling establishment in afforestation by direct seeding. However, with the onus currently on reducing herbicide use, the results suggest that sowing a mixture of cover plants could be an acceptable alternative to herbicides. The cover plants could offer protection against frost, scorching temperatures, or the water run-off encountered on bare soil. However, there are also a number of unresolved issues that need be addressed before the cover plants technique can be recommended.     

井冈山国家级自然保护区森林土壤养分含量的空间变化

以井冈山国家级自然保护区为研究区,采集了57个土壤剖面的5个不同深度(0~10、10~20、20~40、40~60、60 cm)的土壤样品,对土壤样品的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾等指标进行了测定,并结合森林类型数据和DEM高程数据,对不同森林类型及高程条件下的土壤养分状况进行比较分析。结果表明:①土壤有机碳含量最大,全磷含量最小,各土壤养分含量均随土壤深度的增加而递减;②土壤类型的空间分布呈现海拔梯度特征,黄棕壤的分布海拔最高,依次为黄壤、黄红壤,红壤的分布海拔最低;③全磷、有机碳及C/N随着海拔高度的上升呈增加趋势。全钾含量随着海拔高度的上升呈下降趋势;④不同森林类型土壤养分存在差异,常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林的各土壤养分含量均较高;山顶矮林和温性针叶林除全氮和全钾含量外,其他土壤养分值显著高于其他林型;竹林及灌木林的土壤养分条件相对较差;⑤不同森林类型土壤养分含量的空间分布规律与其分布的海拔高度范围有关。