黄土丘陵沟壑区不同植被类型次降雨产流产沙特征

在甘肃省定西市安家沟小流域以径流小区为研究对象,利用径流场在自然降雨条件下监测所得径流泥沙资料,对不同植被类型的次降雨入渗、产流产沙特征进行了对比研究。结果表明：不同植被类型土壤入渗率均随着雨强的增大线性增大,入渗速率与降雨历时呈幂函数关系。油松林的径流系数（15.97%~19.88%）最大,小麦地（10.91%~17.32%）和沙棘林（9.51%~17.47%）次之,冰草地（4.62%~8.30%）和苜蓿地（6.82%~10.66%）的径流系数最小。径流系数（1%~28%）与降雨量之间符合幂函数关系（P<0.05）。径流含沙量平均值排序依次为小麦地（16.49~22.71 g·L^-1）>苜蓿地（12.66~16.91 g·L^-1）>沙棘林（7.04~11.8 g·L^-1）>油松林（6.95~7.78 g·L^-1）>冰草地（5.53~7.71 g·L^-1）。径流含沙量和土壤侵蚀率均与降雨侵蚀力呈正相关关系（P<0.01）,可分别采用线性函数和二次函数进行定量描述。研究成果可为黄土丘陵沟壑区水土保持优化配置提供参考。     

高原鼠兔鼠丘覆压对鼠丘上植被重建的影响研究

本研究以青海省河南县高山嵩草高寒草甸高原鼠兔鼠丘为研究对象,进行鼠丘覆压植被模拟试验,探究萌出植物群落的物种组成、物种多样性、植被覆盖度以及原生植被对鼠丘植物群落重建的贡献率,为鼠丘植被恢复演替提供依据。结果显示：随着鼠丘形成时间的推移,萌出植物主要为多年生杂类草;鼠丘覆压1-2年后萌出植物群落的辛普森指数、香农威纳指数、丰富度指数与均匀度指数整体表现为先快速上升后趋于缓和;被覆压的原生植被对鼠丘植物群落重建的贡献在物种组成上达到47.1%~64.7%。随着鼠丘形成时间的延长,鼠丘向有植被定居的恢复演替方向发展,植被覆盖度逐渐增加。     

甘南高寒草甸蝗虫和毛虫的分布与植被群落的关系

为探明甘南州夏河县高寒草甸草原蝗虫（Chorthippus sp.）和草原毛虫（Gynaephora sp.）的分布与其地形和植被因子的关系,本研究于2010年至2014年连续5年,定点选择30个样区,每年从5月至9月在各样地进行无放回取样调查密度,测量了植被的多度、盖度和地上生物量,并分析它们之间的相关性。结果表明：蝗虫选择分布在平地和半阳坡、坡中位的坡地,而毛虫只选择平地;植被盖度和地上生物量是影响草地蝗虫和毛虫分布的关键因子,与其种群密度呈显著的负相关关系;地上生物量较高的平地是蝗虫和毛虫共同分布的主要区域;洽草（Koeleria glauca）、花苜蓿（Melissilus ruthenicus）和芨芨草（Achnatherum splendens）3种植物多度与蝗虫分布显著相关,与毛虫分布不相关。可见,高寒草甸草原蝗虫和草原毛虫的分布与地形和植被因子显著相关,其栖息地利用特征有显著的偏好性。     

平茬对内蒙古典型草原小叶锦鸡儿群落植物的影响

为了了解平茬对灌丛群落草本植物的影响,本文以内蒙古典型草原小叶锦鸡儿（Caragana microphylla Lam）群落为研究对象,设置了不平茬、一年平茬1次和一年平茬2次共3种处理,分析了平茬前后群落特征与植被化学计量特征的变化。结果表明：与未平茬相比,两种平茬处理下群落内禾本科植物密度均显著增加,平茬第二年禾本科生物量显著高于未平茬处理;平茬后两年内草地群落物种多样性指数随平茬次数增加均有增加趋势,且一年平茬2次处理时,Margalef丰富度指数显著高于未平茬处理;草本群落总生物量随平茬次数增加呈现先下降后增加的变化趋势;平茬后植被C、N含量、C/N比无显著变化,但植被N/P比显著增加。可见,平茬处理改变了小叶锦鸡儿群落的结构特征,提高了群落物种多样性及禾本科植物的密度,有助于典型草原的植被恢复。     

施肥对贵南县轻度退化草甸植被特征的影响

草地退化已严重影响青藏高原高寒牧区畜牧业的发展,施肥是改良轻度退化草地的常用措施。2011-2012年,本研究以贵南县轻度退化草地为研究对象,2011年施加不同氮肥量（0,60,105,150,195和240 kg·hm^-2）和菌肥（45 m³·hm^-2）,探讨施肥在退化草地治理过程中对草地群落盖度、高度和地上生物量的影响。结果表明：施肥处理能够有效提高轻度退化草地植被群落的盖度、高度和总地上生物量,且施肥后次年轻度退化草地群落的盖度、高度和总地上生物量显著（P<0.05）优于当年。45 m³·hm^-2菌肥处理在当年的效果较好,195 kg·hm^-2氮肥处理在次年更佳,2012年7-10月地上总生物量均为最高,分别比不施肥处理分别高出44.3%,97.1%,123.0%和135.4%。不同草种对施肥的响应也不同,195 kg·hm^-2氮肥处理下,2011年禾草地上生物量较高,2012年莎草生物量高于禾草。综上,195 kg·hm^-2尿素施用量配合围栏封育的措施可用于贵南县轻度退化草地的植被恢复。     

Hyper-spectral remote sensing to monitor vegetation stress

Background, aim, and scope  Vegetation stress diagnoses based on plant sampling and physiochemical analysis using traditional methods are commonly time-consuming, destructive and expensive. The measurement of field spectral reflectance is one basis of airborne or spaceborne remote sensing monitoring. Materials and methods  In this study, paddy plants were grown in the barrels evenly filled with 10.0 kg soil that was mixed respectively with 0, 2.5 × 207.2 and 5.0 × 207.2 mg Pb per 1,000 g soil. Rice canopy spectra were gathered by mobile hyper-spectral radiometer (ASD FieldSpec Pro FR, USA). Meanwhile, canopy leaves in the field-of-view (FOV) of spectroradiometer were collected and then prepared in the laboratory, (1) for chlorophyll measurement by Model 721 spectrophotometer, and (2) for Pb determination by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (SpectraAA-220FS). Results and discussion  Canopy spectral reflectance in the region of visible-to-near-infrared light (VNIR) increased, because ascended Pb concentration caused the decrease of canopy chlorophyll content. In the agro-ecosystem, however, heavy metal contamination is presented typically as mixture and their interactions strongly affect actually occurring effects. Normalized spectral absorption depth (D _n), and shifting distance (DS) of red edge position (REPs) revealed the differences in Pb concentration for canopy leaves, especially at the early tillering stage. Due to insufficient biomass of rice plants, the 30th day was not reliable enough for the selection of crucial growth stages. Some special sensitive bands might be omitted at the same time because of limited sample sets. Conclusions  Our initial experiments are still too few in the amounts of both metals and plants neither to build accurate prediction models nor to discuss the transformation from ground to air/spaceborne remote sensing. However, we are pleased to communicate that ground remote sensing measurements would provide reliable information for the estimation of Pb concentration in rice plants at the early tillering stage when proper features (such as DS and D _n) of reflectance spectra are applied. Recommendations and perspectives  Hyper-spectral remote sensing is a potential and promising technology for monitoring environmental stresses on agricultural vegetation. Further ground remote sensing experiments are necessary to evaluate the possibility of hyper-spectral reflectance spectroscopy in monitoring different kinds of metals’ stress on various plants.     

Quantifying plant species diversity in a Natura 2000 network: Old ideas and new proposals

Assessing the effects of the spatial components on species diversity in a network of protected areas represents an important step for assessing its conservation “capacity”. A clear evaluation on how α-, β-, and γ-diversity are partitioned among and within spatial scales can help to drive manager decisions and provide method for monitoring species diversity. Moving from these concepts, a probabilistic sample of plant species composition was here applied for quantifying plant species diversity within the Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) of the Natura 2000 network in the Siena Province. All analyses were performed separately for all species and those species defined as “focal” (included in regional, national or continental “red” lists). The results indicated that species richness of the SCIs differed from one location to another one independently from the sampling efforts. Diversity partitioning indicated that most of the flora diversity within the network was given by larger-scale β-diversity, i.e. the differences in species composition among SCIs. β-diversity was then decomposed in two components: β_Area (due to the differences in area among SCIs) and β_Replacement (due to the compositional differences across SCIs). β_Area was particularly important for all species, while β_Replacement was the most important factor for focal species. The consequent implications for monitoring and nature conservation strategies are discussed.     

Slope correction for LAI estimation from gap fraction measurements

Digital hemispherical photography poses specific problems when deriving leaf area index (LAI) over sloping terrain. This study proposes a method to correct from the slope effect. It is based on simple geometrical considerations to account for the path length variation within the canopy for cameras pointing vertically. Simulations over sloping terrain show that gap fraction increases up-slope while decreasing down-slope. As a consequence of this balance between up- and down-slope effects, effective LAI estimates derived from inversion of the Poisson model are marginally affected for low to medium slopes (<25°) and LAI (LAI < 2). However, for larger slopes and LAI values, estimated LAI values may be strongly underestimated. The proposed correction was evaluated over four forested sites located over sloping terrain. Results indicate that in these conditions (LAI between 0.6 up to 3.0, clumped canopies with relatively erectophile leaf distribution), the effect of the slope (between 25° and 36°) was moderate as compared to other potential sources of problems when deriving LAI from gap fraction measurements, including clumping, leaf angle inclination and spatial sampling.     

Peri-urbanization may vary with vegetation restoration: A large scale regional analysis

Over that past decade, ecological restoration practices have expanded globally. However, the effectiveness of ecological restoration depends on the complex interactions of various natural and socioeconomic factors, about which there is limited scientific understanding and thus provides an important research frontier. This paper analyzed the relationship between regional scale vegetation restoration and the process of urbanization using the Loess Plateau of China as a case study. This region has experienced both rapid urbanization and a high number of vegetation restoration activities. Urbanization and vegetation restoration can be considered as extremes on the spectrum of environment preservation activities. Three separate spatial correlation analyses between urbanization and vegetation restoration were identified, resulting in: 1) insignificant correlations in saturated urban areas; 2) significant negative correlations in peri-urban areas; and 3) significant positive correlations in undeveloped areas. The relationship between urbanization and vegetation restoration is thus stage-dependent. Impacts of urbanization on vegetation degradation has improved but has not been fully addressed by large scale vegetation restoration. Regardless of whether the county or grid scale is used, peri-urbanization was found to be the critical factor affecting the effectiveness of vegetation restoration over both time and space. Therefore, peri-urbanized areas are viewed as priorities for improving the coupling of urban development and vegetation restoration.     

Evaluation of optical sensor measurements of canopy reflectance and of leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents to assess crop nitrogen status of muskmelon

Nitrogen losses from intensive vegetal production systems are commonly associated with contamination of water bodies. Sustainable and optimal economic N management requires correct and timely on-farm assessment of crop N status to detect N deficiency or excess. Optical sensors are promising tools for the assessment of crop N status throughout a crop or at critical times. We evaluated optical sensor measurement of canopy reflectance and of leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents to assess crop N status weekly throughout a muskmelon crop. The Crop Circle ACS 470 was used for reflectance measurement, the SPAD 502 for leaf chlorophyll, and the DUALEX 4 Scientific for leaf chlorophyll and flavonols. Four indices of canopy reflectance (NDVI, GNDVI, RVI, GVI), leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents and the nitrogen balance index (NBI), the ratio of chlorophyll to flavonols contents, were linearly related to crop N content and to crop Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) throughout most of the crop. NBI most accurately predicted crop N status; in five consecutive weekly measurements, R² values were 0.80–0.95. For NDVI during the same period, R² values were 0.76–0.87 in the first three measurements but R² values in the last two measurements were 0.39–0.45. Similar relationships were found with the three other reflectance indices. Generally, the relationships with NNI were equal to or slightly better than those with crop N content. These optical sensor measurements provided (i) estimation of crop N content in the range 1.5–4.5%, and (ii) an assessment of whether crop N content was sufficient or excessive for optimal crop growth for NNI ranges of 0.8–2.0. Composite equations that integrated the relationships between successive measurements with the optical sensors and crop N content or NNI for periods of ≥2 weeks (often 2–3 weeks) were derived for most indices/parameters. Overall, these results demonstrated the potential for the use of these optical sensor measurements for on-farm monitoring of crop N status in muskmelon.