贺兰山东坡典型植物群落土壤微生物量碳、氮沿海拔梯度的变化特征

土壤微生物量是陆地生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分,在生态系统物质循环和能量转化中占有特别重要的地位。开展土壤微生物量与海拔高度的关系的研究,能促使人们对土壤微生物空间分布格局及其形成机制的认识,预测全球变化对生态系统功能的影响。本文对贺兰山不同海拔梯度具有代表性的荒漠化草原（HM）、蒙古扁桃灌丛（BT）、油松林（YS）、青海云杉林（QH）和高山草甸（CD）等5种植物群落土壤微生物生物量及其微生物商进行了研究。结果表明：表层土壤（0～20 cm）微生物生物量碳（MBC）、氮（MBN）大小次序为：CD〉QH〉YS〉BT〉HM,MBC、MBN随海拔梯度的升高显著增加,与土壤有机碳、氮含量有着一致的变化规律,但是微生物商（qMB）表现出沿海拔梯度先增加后减小的变化趋势,最大值出现在蒙古扁桃灌丛土壤,MBC/MBN则没有明显的变化规律。相关分析表明,不同海拔高度的土壤微生物量碳氮不仅与年均降水量、土壤含水量,而且与土壤有机碳、全氮呈显著线性正相关关系（P〈0.01）,但是与年均气温、土壤容重呈显著线性负相关关系（P〈0.01）。贺兰山土壤微生物量碳、氮随海拔高度升高而增加,降水量、气温、土壤湿度、土壤有机碳和全氮可能是影响土壤微生物量沿海拔梯度变化的关键因子。     

三江源地区高寒灌丛生物量空间分布格局

生物量在地上与地下的分配是植物生长策略的反映,对于研究生态系统碳储量和碳循环有着重要的意义.采用收获法对灌丛群落与物种的地上、地下生物量进行测定,并分析温度和降雨量等气候因素对灌丛群落地上和地下生物量及构成的影响.同时选择三江源地区4种典型的灌丛植物,百里香杜鹃(Rhododendron thymifolium Maxim.)、山生柳(Salix oritrepha Schneid.)、金露梅(Potentilla fruticosa Linn.)和鲜卑花(Sibiraea laevigata(Linn)Maxim.),进行地上、地下生物量研究.结果显示:三江源灌丛群落的地上生物量介于209.88-3 632.34 g/m~2之间,地下生物量介于178.81-2 262.03 g/m~2之间,根冠比(R/S)介于0.40-2.57之间;物种的地上生物量介于1.83-3 632.34 g/m~2之间,地下生物量介于1.22-2 262.03 g/m~2之间,根冠比(R/S)介于0.23-2.63之间.灌丛群落与物种的地上、地下生物量拟合的斜率分别为0.66和0.96,前者与1存在显著性差别,后者与1没有显著性差别.这说明灌丛群落与物种的地上、地下生物量分配分别呈异速分配关系与等速分配关系,百里香杜鹃和鲜卑花的地上与地下生物量分配属于等速分配关系,金露梅和山生柳属于异速分配关系.本研究表明三江源高寒灌丛生物量大小与年均温度的变化关系密切;年均温度与年均降雨量都不能明显地改变根冠比(R/S).     

青藏高原金露梅灌丛草甸植物群落对退化演替的响应

为了明晰金露梅(Potentillafruticosa)灌丛草甸植物群落对退化演替的响应,以空间代时间的方法,于2018年8月中旬在青藏高原祁连山南麓分别选取原生、中度、重度和极度4种不同演替阶段的金露梅灌丛草甸,对其植被群落进行研究,以探究金露梅灌丛草甸生态功能退化过程中植被群落及土壤养分的演变特征。结果表明,(1)随着退化程度的加剧,地上生物量和地下生物量现存量均呈逐渐减小趋势,且原生金露梅灌丛地上生物量(387.73±25.53)g?m~(-2)和中度退化样地(328.55±36.23) g?m~(-2)显著高于重度退化样地(210±35.04) g?m~(-2)和极度退化样地(182.19±49.99) g?m~(-2)(P0.05),放牧改变了植物群落结构,禾草和莎草地上生物量逐渐减小,而杂类草地上生物量逐渐增加。(2)与地上生物量相似,原生金露梅灌丛(48 46.01±747.10)g?m~(-2)和中度退化样地(4 723.99±505.64)g?m~(-2)地下生物量现存量显著高于重度退化样地(2 590.75±276.45)g?m~(-2)和极度退化样地(1 011.84±163.46) g?m~(-2)(P0.05),且随着退化程度的加剧,表层土壤全碳、全氮和有机质呈增加趋势,地下根系生物量趋于向表层土壤发展。(3)随着退化程度的加剧,群落物种丰富度逐渐下降,且原生金露梅灌丛和中度退化样地物种丰富度显著高于重度退化和极度退化样地(P0.05)。此外,群落物种丰富度与地上生物量呈显著正相关(P0.05)。研究表明,过度放牧会导致植被群落发生分化,物种丰富度下降,最终导致金露梅灌丛草甸退化为杂类草草地,甚至黑土滩次生裸地。研究结果对今后退化金露梅灌丛草甸的放牧管理具有重要的指导意义。     

高山草甸群落生物量在融雪梯度上的变化

在青藏高原东部的一个高山雪床,沿融雪从早到晚的顺序设置3个融雪梯度部位,并对每个梯度部位的环境因子和该部位上的地上与地下生物量进行了测量和比较.3个梯度部位间的融雪时间、土壤含水量和温度日较差有显著不同,而土壤营养成分及pH无明显变化.从早融部位到晚融部位,地上生物量增加,地下生物量降低,地上与地下总生物量降低,地下生物量与地上生物量的比值增大.与晚融部位相比,早融部位的地上生物量主要集中于地上0～10 cm范围内,表明在早融部位植物地上部分有变矮的趋势;早融部位的地下生物量在土壤各深度分布相对较均一,而晚融部位地下牛物量则主要集中于地下0～10 cm范围内.雪场中各部位的土壤水分含量及地表温度差异对生物量的变化有较大的影响.图5表2参33     

环境因素对密云水库上游流域土壤有机碳和全氮含量影响的通径分析

土壤是全球重要的碳库和氮库,在全球碳氮循环中具有重要地位。密云水库是华北地区最大的水库和北京市最重要的地表水水源地,其上游流域山地广布,地形复杂,气候变化明显,土壤类型和植被类型多样,影响土壤碳氮库的环境因素具有较强的变异性。为揭示环境因素对密云水库上游流域土壤有机碳（soil organic carbon,SOC）和全氮（total nitrogen,TN）含量的作用效应,采用野外采样、实验室分析与逐步回归分析和通径分析相结合的方法,研究了气候（温度和降水）、地形（海拔和坡度）、土壤理化性质（土壤容重、含水量、pH值和粘粒含量）等环境因素对流域SOC和TN含量的影响。结果表明：温度、土壤容重、含水量、pH值和粘粒含量对SOC含量的影响显著（P＆lt;0.001）,其中各因子的直接通径系数依次为：土壤含水量（0.439）＞土壤容重（-0.324）＞pH值（-0.238）＞温度（-0.209）＞土壤粘粒含量（0.092）,间接通径系数依次为：土壤容重（-0.425）＞土壤粘粒含量（0.305）＞土壤含水量（0.287）＞pH值（-0.179）＞温度（-0.043）,因此,土壤含水量、pH值和温度主要通过直接作用影响SOC含量,而土壤容重和粘粒含量则主要通过其它因子的作用间接影响SOC含量。海拔、土壤容重、含水量、pH 值和粘粒含量对 TN 含量的影响显著（P＆lt;0.001）,其中各因子的直接通径系数依次为：土壤含水量（0.456）＞海拔（0.234）＞土壤容重（-0.228）＞pH 值（-0.190）＞土壤粘粒含量（0.094）,间接通径系数依次为：土壤容重（-0.484）＞土壤粘粒含量（0.301）＞海拔（0.247）＞土壤含水量（0.257）＞pH 值（-0.202）,因此,土壤含水量主要通过直接作用影响TN含量,而土壤容重和粘粒含量主要通过土壤含水量的作用间接影响TN含量,海拔和土壤pH值的直接作用与间接作用     

金沙江干热河谷优势草本植物生物量与土壤物理性质的关系

测定金沙江干热河谷3种优势草本植物(扭黄茅、拟金茅和芸香草)的地上、地下生物量及土壤分层(0-5、5-10、10-20 cm)容重、含水率、持水量和孔隙度等物理性质,探讨3种植物地上、地下生物量、根冠比与各土层物理性质的相关性.结果显示:(1)扭黄茅地上生物量显著高于拟金茅和芸香草,但地下生物量和根冠比显著低于后两者.(2)除扭黄茅外,拟金茅和芸香草的地上、地下生物量之间均呈现异速生长关系.(3)芸香草0-5 cm的土壤物理性质优于5-20cm,拟金茅则相反;除含水率、非毛管孔隙度外,扭黄茅各土层物理性质无显著差异.(4)拟金茅地上生物量与0-5cm的含水率、5-10cm的毛管持水量、最小持水量、总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度呈显著正相关,其地下生物量与3个土层的含水率呈显著正相关;芸香草地下生物量与0-5 cm的含水率、5-10 cm的毛管持水量、最小持水量以及10-20 cm的最小持水量呈显著正相关,其地上生物量及扭黄茅地上、地下生物量与3个土层的物理性质均无显著相关性.拟金茅根冠比与容重呈显著正相关,与持水量、总孔隙度呈显著负正相关,芸香草根冠比与毛管持水量、最小持水量呈显著正相关.综上,含水率是影响拟金茅生长发育的重要因子,持水量、孔隙度对拟金茅地上生物量的影响更大;含水率、持水量对芸香草地下生物量的影响更为显著;扭黄茅生物量分配可能受到除土壤物理性质以外的因子影响更大.与拟金茅和芸香草地上、地下生物量的异速生长关系不同,扭黄茅通过分配较低地下生物量来适应干热河谷的特殊生境.(图4表5参46)     

羌塘高原高寒草地植物地上地下碳氮生态化学计量特征及其影响因素北大核心CSCD

研究高寒草地的植物生态化学计量特征对认识极端气候背景下的草地生态系统功能与服务具有重要的意义. 选择羌塘高原高寒草地作为研究区,分析东西走向60个样点植物地上、地下部分的碳（C）、氮（N）含量与C：N的分布特征,及其各自的主要驱动因素. 结果表明：高寒草地植物地上部分C、N含量（38.22%、1.82%）均高于地下部分（31.11%、1.15%）,但C：N（22.08）却小于地下部分（28.88）,且地上部分C含量、C：N与地下部分存在显著性差异（P 〈 0.05）. 干燥指数与植物地上部分C含量（R^2 = 0.072,P 〈 0.05）以及C：N（R^2 = 0.15,P 〈 0.005）呈负相关关系,却与植物地下部分C：N（R^2 = 0.53,P 〈 0.001）呈正相关关系;此外,年均降水量（R^2 = 0.13,P 〈 0.005）与地上部分C含量呈负相关关系,总生物量（R^2 = 0.13,P 〈 0.01）及植被总盖度（R^2 = 0.12, P 〈 0.01）与地下部分C含量呈正相关关系;海拔与地上部分C：N亦呈正相关关系（R 2= 0.15,P 〈 0.005）,而年均温却与地下部分C：N呈负相关关系（R^2 = 0.31,P 〈 0.001）. 可见,水热条件是影响羌塘高原植物地上、地下C含量以及C：N差异的主要因素,而干燥指数可以作为较好的度量指标. （图7 表1 参46）     

狼毒对西藏高原高寒草甸退化的指示作用

局部草甸退化是西藏高原面临的主要生态问题,狼毒在高寒退化草甸中的入侵、扩散也日益严重,已经成为退化草甸中主要的毒杂草之一.为了解狼毒对高寒草甸退化程度的指示作用,在西藏当雄县草原站选择3处不同退化程度的高寒草甸群落,调查植物群落组成,并测定各群落表层土壤的理化指标.结果显示:随着狼毒分布增加,草甸呈逐步退化的态势,一方面,草甸群落的优势物种组成从以牧草为主转变为以毒杂草为主,狼毒盖度、地上生物量及重要值逐渐增加,而禾本科、莎草科等优良牧草的盖度、地上生物量以及重要值逐渐降低;另一方面,草甸表层土壤表现出贫瘠化的趋势,土壤有机质、全氮含量、土壤含水量均显著降低,无机氮(硝态氮、氨态氮)也呈降低的趋势,而pH值、土壤容重则呈增加趋势.狼毒盖度及地上生物量与牧草地上生物量、土壤全氮、有机碳及土壤含水量呈显著的负相关(P0.05),而与土壤容重和pH值呈极显著正相关(P0.01).因此,较易测定的狼毒盖度及地上生物量能较好地指示当雄草原化草甸的退化程度,可作为判定草甸退化程度的指标.     

改良剂对铅锌尾矿污染土壤上龙须草生长和叶片叶绿素含量的影响

采用盆栽试验，研究了4种改良剂对铅锌尾矿污染土壤中龙须草生长和叶片叶绿素含量的影响。结果表明，改良剂处理土壤生长的龙须草长势明显优于对照，地上部生物量均显著高于对照（P≤0．05），增产效果均〉100％。4种改良剂缓解污染土壤中重金属对龙须草毒害作用的大小顺序为钙镁磷肥〉碳酸钙〉有机肥〉海泡石。4种改良剂在不同处理浓度下对龙须草生物量和叶绿素含量的影响趋势表现出一定的相关性，其中随着碳酸钙处理浓度的增加，龙须草生物量和叶绿素含量呈下降趋势；其他3种改良剂随着处理浓度的升高，龙须草生物量呈上升趋势，而叶绿素含量则呈先上升后下降的趋势。     

高山草地环山样带异质坡向上3种植物的株高、叶片性状与生物量分配北大核心CSCD

为了解坡向异质性生境对植物生长发育的影响机制,在位于青藏高原东缘的岷江源区的研究样地内,沿山脊划分出东南、西南和东北3个坡向,每个坡向上选择珠芽蓼（Polygonum viviparum）、盘花垂头菊（Cremanthodium discoideum Maxim.）和滨发草（Deschampsia littoralis）3种常见物种作为研究对象,对比其株高、叶片性状和生物量分配的变化,并测定不同坡向土壤环境因子.结果显示：不同坡向间土壤环境差异明显;珠芽蓼和滨发草的株高在不同坡向上无显著差异,而盘花垂头菊株高依次为西南坡〉东南坡〉东北坡,3种植物比叶面积（SLA）均有显著变化且变化趋势均不同,在东北坡上珠芽蓼（161.30±5.44 cm2/g）和盘花垂头菊（151.26±3.36 cm2/g）具有最小的SLA,而滨发草（212.97±11.39 cm2/g）最大;珠芽蓼的地下生物量高于地上生物量,而盘花垂头菊和滨发草地下-地上生物量分配格局则相反,3种植物的地下生物量比例在温度最低的东北坡均达到最高;珠芽蓼的地上-地下生物量分配在不同坡向皆为等速生长,而其余两种植物在个别坡向上呈现异速生长,且均为地下生物量积累速率大于地上部分.因此,高山草地生态系统的不同坡向生境对植物的生长发育产生了显著影响,上述3种植物的株高及叶片性状对不同坡向的响应具有特异性,而在温度较低的坡向上3种植物均偏向把更多的生物量分配给地下部分.     

川西亚高山、高山森林土壤微生物生物量和酶活性动态特征

为深入了解川西亚高山/高山森林冬季生态学过程,于2008年11月─2009年10月,在土壤冻结初期、冻结期和融化期及植被生长季节,研究了不同海拔岷江冷杉林（Abies faxoniana）土壤微生物生物量和酶活性动态。各海拔森林土壤在冬季维持着较高的微生物生物量含量和酶活性,并随土壤冻融过程不断变化。土壤有机层和矿质土壤层冬季微生物生物量碳和氮含量及转化酶和尿酶活性均表现出受冻结初期土壤冻融循环影响显著降低,在冻结期变化不明显,在融化期急剧增加至融化后显著降低的趋势,且土壤有机层微生物生物量含量和酶活性在融化期具有一个明显的年高峰值。海拔变化显著影响了土壤酶活性,但对土壤微生物生物量不显著。土壤温度与土壤微生物生物量含量相关显著。这表明季节性冻融期是土壤生态过程的重要时期,土壤冻融格局显著影响川西亚高山/高山森林土壤微生物生物量和酶活性动态。     

Plant biomass allocation strategies of the dominant species in an alpine meadow of northwestern Sichuan,China北大核心CSCD

Plant biomass partitioning is an important driver of whole-plant net carbon gain, as biomass allocation could directly affect plant's future growth and reproduction. Alpine meadow in the northwestern Sichuan was impressed by the abundant community structure and species diversity. This study on biomass allocation pattern of different functional types and lifeforms might help understand plant life-history strategy of alpine meadow plants. We investigated 72 dominant herbaceous species for their compartments, biomass, and morphological traits during 2012-2014. These plants were sampled from natural grassland, disturbed grassland, and wintergreen grassland; they belonged to three functional types (grass, sedge, and forb) and two lifeforms (annual and perennial). The scaling relationships between functional traits of these plants were analyzed using Model type II regression method to estimate the parameters of the allometric equations. (1) Biomass allocation proportion of components significantly differed among grasses, sedges, and forbs owing to phylogeny: grasses had the highest stem biomass percentage, sedges had higher root biomass percentage, and forbs had higher leaf biomass percentage, but the scaling relationships were not significantly different, and isometric scaling was noted between biomass components for the three functional types. (2) Moreover, plant lifeforms affected the biomass allocation proportion of components, owing to the shorter or longer turnover rate and investment strategy between annual and perennial species. Annuals allocated more biomass to the stem and reproduction organs, but perennials invested more biomass to the leaves and roots. (3) In addition, plants from different grassland types differed in both biomass and morphology traits. Moreover, forbs from natural grassland and wintergreen grassland had higher leaf and reproductive biomass, but those from disturbed grasslands had higher stem biomass. Our results suggest that the functional type and lifeform decide the inherent scaling relationships between components of plants, but anthropogenic disturbance significantly impacted the quantity of component biomass. This study has important theoretical and practical significance to understand the response of alpine plants to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance as well as to help in the scientific management of alpine meadow. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Frost drought in conifers at the alpine timberline: xylem dysfunction and adaptations

Drought stress can cause xylem embolism in trees when the water potential (psi) in the xylem falls below specific vulnerability thresholds. At the alpine timberline, frost drought is known to cause excessive winter embolism unless xylem vulnerability or transpiration is sufficiently reduced to avoid critical psi. We compared annual courses of psi and embolism in Picea abies, Pinus cembra, Pinus mugo, Larix decidua, and Juniperus communis growing at the timberline vs. low altitude. In addition, vulnerability properties and related anatomical parameters as well as wood density (D(t)) and wall reinforcement (wall thickness related to conduit diameter) were studied. This allowed an estimate of stress intensities as well as a detection of adaptations that reduce embolism formation. At the alpine timberline, psi was lowest during winter with corresponding embolism rates of up to 100% in three of the conifers studied. Only Pinus cembra and Larix decidua avoided winter embolism due to moderate psi. Minor embolism was observed at low altitude where the water potentials of all species remained within a narrow range throughout the year. Within species, differences in psi50 (psi at 50% loss of conductivity) at high vs. low altitude were less than 1 MPa. In Picea abies and Pinus cembra, psi50 was more negative at the timberline while, in the other conifer species, psi50 was more negative at low altitude. Juniperus communis exhibited the lowest (-6.4 +/- 0.04 MPa; mean +/- SE) and Pinus mugo the highest psi50 (-3.34 +/- 0.03 MPa). In some cases, D(t) and tracheid wall reinforcement were higher than in previously established relationships of these parameters with psi50, possibly because of mechanical demands associated with the specific growing conditions. Conifers growing at the alpine timberline were exposed to higher drought stress intensities than individuals at low altitude. Frost drought during winter caused high embolism rates which were probably amplified by freeze-thaw stress. Although frost drought had a large effect on plant water transport, adaptations in hydraulic safety and related anatomical parameters were observed in only a few of the conifer species studied.     

三江源国家公园不同草地土壤微生物功能基因的差异性分析

土壤微生物在陆地生物地球化学循环过程中起着非常重要的作用。为了探索青藏高原高寒草地类型地上植被特性和地下土壤环境与土壤微生物功能基因之间关系,以三江源国家公园高寒草原、高寒沼泽化草甸及高寒草甸3种典型草地类型为研究对象,利用基因芯片(GeoChip 5.0)技术测定其微生物功能基因丰度,并分析它们之间的差异及影响因素。结果表明:(1)3种草地类型地上群落结构和地下土壤环境存在差异性,其中高寒草原物种多样性指数、pH值较高,沼泽化草甸中土壤含水量、微生物量碳、地上生物量、土壤速效氮含量较高,高寒草甸中则是土壤微生物量氮含量较高;(2)3种高寒草地类型的碳循环、氮循环、磷循环、有机修复的土壤微生物功能基因丰度存在显著差异,其中这些功能基因的丰度在高寒沼泽化草甸最高,高寒草甸、高寒草原次之;(3)地上植物物种多样性虽对功能基因丰度变化的解释率(r2)在57.1%-61.2%之间,但统计学上不显著(P>0.05),而微生物基因丰度随地上生物量的增加而增加,且解释率(r2)为77.5%-80.0%(P<0.05)。在pH、土壤含水量、土壤微生物量等地下土壤环境因子中,pH对功能基因丰度存在显著影响(P<0.01)解释率在83.4%-87.5%间,且土壤微生物功能基因丰度随土壤pH的增加而降低;土壤含水量、土壤微生物量对土壤微生物功能基因丰度的解释率分别为81.9%-83.1%(P<0.05)和76.8%-86.2%(P<0.05),微生物功能基因丰度随这两者含量的增加呈上升趋势。进一步运用RDA分析发现,pH、土壤微生物量、地上生物量是影响微生物功能基因丰度的主要因子,其中土壤微生物量是土壤有机质的重要组成部分,土壤有机质又是通过地上植被凋落物沉积所得到的。因此,地上植被特性的自上而下控制因子影响了土壤环境中自下而上的控制因子,间接的影响了微生物功能基因丰度。由此得出,地上植被特性和地下土壤环境因子共同作用控制了微生物功能基因丰度使其出现差异性。     

贺兰山高山草甸生物多样性和地上生物量的关系

在对贺兰山高山草甸进行群落调查的基础上,研究高山草甸生物多样性和地上生物量与环境因子之间的关系,进而分析生物多样性和地上生物量的关系.结果表明:(1)地上生物量主要与土层深度成正相关关系.(2)海拔高度与生物多样性成负相关关系,而其它影响物种丰富度或Shannon指数的环境因子仅在个别群落类型中起作用.(3)生物多样性与地上生物量主要呈单峰曲线关系.     

毛竹根系生物量分布与季节动态变化

采用挖土柱法研究了安徽黄山地区毛竹（Phyllostachys edulis）根系生物量的分布规律,连续观测了根系生物量的季节变化,并分析了根系生物量与温度、降雨等环境因子相关性。研究结果表明：毛竹林的根系生物量平均为12.891 t·hm^-2,88.8%的根系分布在0-40 cm土层,随土层加深根系生物量逐渐减少,0-20 cm土层中的生物量占总生物量的62.3%,分别是20-40 cm与40-60 cm根系生物量的2.35倍与5.56倍;根系总生物量具有明显的季节动态,变化范围为7.686-17.386 t·hm^-2,表现为单峰型,7月份最高,2月份最低;不同深度土壤中毛竹根系生物量也存在明显的季节动态,均从2月份开始上升,达到最大值后逐渐下降,与总生物量的季节变化规律类似,其中0-20 cm与20-40 cm土层根系生物量最大值出现在7月,与总生物量一致,而40-60 cm土层最大值出现在6月,存在一定偏差;毛竹林根系生物量与气温因子显著相关,三次拟合方程为Y=0.0001X3-0.0013X2＋0.2398X＋7.6022（R2=0.956）,与降雨量因子无显著相关性。     

Nitrogen critical loads for alpine vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem response: are we there yet?

Increases in the deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) have been linked to several terrestrial ecological changes, including soil biogeochemistry, plant stress susceptibility, and community diversity. Recognizing the need to identify sensitive indicators of biotic response to N deposition, we empirically estimated the N critical load for changes in alpine plant community composition and compared this with the estimated critical load for soil indicators of ecological change. We also measured the degree to which alpine vegetation may serve as a sink for anthropogenic N and how much plant sequestration is related to changes in species composition. We addressed these research goals by adding 20, 40, or 60 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1), along with an ambient control (6 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1) total deposition), to a species-rich alpine dry meadow for an eight-year period. Change in plant species composition associated with the treatments occurred within three years of the initiation of the experiment and were significant at all levels of N addition. Using individual species abundance changes and ordination scores, we estimated the N critical loads (total deposition) for (1) change in individual species to be 4 kg N x ha(-1) yr(-1) and (2) for overall community change to be 10 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1). In contrast, increases in NO3- leaching, soil solution inorganic NO3-, and net N nitrification occurred at levels above 20 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1). Increases in total aboveground biomass were modest and transient, occurring in only one of the three years measured. Vegetative uptake of N increased significantly, primarily as a result of increasing tissue N concentrations and biomass increases in subdominant species. Aboveground vegetative uptake of N accounted for <40% of the N added. The results of this experiment indicate that changes in vegetation composition will precede detectable changes in more traditionally used soil indicators of ecosystem responses to N deposition and that changes in species composition are probably ongoing in alpine dry meadows of the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Feedbacks to soil N cycling associated with changes in litter quality and species composition may result in only short-term increases in vegetation N pools.     

放牧管理对藏北高寒沼泽草甸群落结构的影响

采用样带法研究了冬季放牧、冬春季放牧和全年放牧3种放牧管理模式对西藏高寒沼泽草甸高度、盖度、地上生物量及群落结构的影响.研究表明,3种放牧管理模式下的高寒沼泽草甸植被群落物种数差异不显著（p〉0.05）,高度、盖度和地上生物量差异显著（p〈0.05）。冬季放牧、冬春季放牧和全年放牧沼泽草甸地上生物量依次降低。放牧管理对沼泽草甸群落多样性影响较大,不同放牧管理模式下的沼泽草甸Shannon-Wiener指数差异显著（p〈0.05）,冬春放牧沼泽草甸Shannon-Wiener指数较冬季放牧和全年放牧沼泽草甸低。冬季放牧和全年放牧沼泽草甸Margalef指数和Pielou指数差异不显著,显著（p〈0.05）高于冬春季放牧沼泽草甸。     

Relation between extinction and assisted colonization of plants in the arctic‐alpine and boreal regions

Assisted colonization of vascular plants is considered by many ecologists an important tool to preserve biodiversity threatened by climate change. I argue that assisted colonization may have negative consequences in arctic‐alpine and boreal regions. The observed slow movement of plants toward the north has been an argument for assisted colonization. However, these range shifts may be slow because for many plants microclimatic warming (ignored by advocates of assisted colonization) has been smaller than macroclimatic warming. Arctic‐alpine and boreal plants may have limited possibilities to disperse farther north or to higher elevations. I suggest that arctic‐alpine species are more likely to be driven to extinction because of competitive exclusion by southern species than by increasing temperatures. If so, the future existence of arctic‐alpine and boreal flora may depend on delaying or preventing the migration of plants toward the north to allow northern species to evolve to survive in a warmer climate. In the arctic‐alpine region, preventing the dispersal of trees and shrubs may be the most important method to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The purported conservation benefits of assisted colonization should not be used to promote the migration of invasive species by forestry.