Reference Conditions of Alpine Streams: Physical Habitat and Ecology

Natural and near-natural streams are rare in the densely populated areas of the Alps. A variety of anthropogenic impacts have resulted in the alteration and sometimes even complete destruction of these systems. Nowadays it is difficult to find un-impacted streams that are strongly needed to define the natural variability and ecosystem processes. The results from freshwater inventories and habitat assessments conducted in protected areas in Austria (Nationalpark Hohe Tauern) and Italy (Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn) were used to develop a comprehensive typology of Alpine streams. Three different levels were used to discriminate between the distinct stream/river types: source (glacial vs. non-glacial), hierarchy (i.e. location within the stream system) and topography/ channel morphology. Important characters defining the structure and function of these stream types are gradient, substrate composition, flow pattern and riparian vegetation. Benthic fauna assemblages from 99 near-natural stream segments in glacial and non-glacial systems demonstrated the effect of glaciation on abundance levels of the total macroinvertebrate fauna, EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) and the chironomid subfamily Diamesinae in different altitudes. A general decrease of abundances with increasing altitude was found. While stream segments with a degree of glaciation >10% primarily showed reduced abundances at all altitudes, lower (<10%) or no glaciation did not influence invertebrate abundances at lower reaches. Due to the near-natural conditions of the selected stream segments, a valuable definition of reference conditions of Alpine streams based on habitat characteristics is available. As a basis it offers excellent opportunities to conduct holistic interdisciplinary studies in protected areas in the future.     

Yields of Dissolved Organic C,N, and P. from Three High-Elevation Catchments,Colorado Front Range,U.S.A.

Ecosystem dynamics in high-elevation watersheds are extremely sensitive to changes in chemical, energy, and water fluxes. Here we report information on yields of dissolved organic C, N, and P for the 1999 snowmelt runoff season from three high-elevation catchments in the Colorado Front Range, U.S.A.: Green Lake 4 (GL4) and Albion townsite (ALB) on North Boulder Creek and the Saddle Stream (SS), a tributary catchment dominated by alpine tundra. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in stream waters ranged from <1 to 10 mg C L^-1, with the highest values occurring at the SS site. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations ranged from below detection limits to 0.28 mg N L^-1 and were again highest at the tundra-dominatedsite. Dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) concentrations were at or near detection limits throughout the season in all three catchments indicating a strong terrestrial retention of P. OnlyDOC showed a significant relationship to discharge. Yields of DOC in the three catchments ranged from 10.6 to 11.8 kg C ha^-1 while yields of DON and DOP ranged from 0.32 to 0.41 and 0.02 to 0.08 kg ha^-1, respectively. The relatively highyield of organic N and P relative to C from the highest elevationsite (GL4) was somewhat surprising and points to either: (1) a source of dissolved organic material (DOM) in the upper reaches of the catchment that is enriched in these nutrients or (2) theselective uptake and processing of organic N and P downstream ofthe sampling site. Additionally, seasonal changes in the relativeimportance of DOM precursor materials appear to result in changesin the N content of DOM at both the GL4 and ALB sites.     

Pattern and Process in Northern Rocky Mountain Headwaters: Ecological Linkages in the Headwaters of the Crown of the Continent1

Abstract: The Crown of the Continent is one of the premiere ecosystems in North America containing Waterton‐Glacier International Peace Park, the Bob Marshall‐Great Bear‐Scapegoat Wilderness Complex in Montana, various Provincial Parks in British Columbia and Alberta, several national and state forest lands in the USA, and Crown Lands in Canada. The region is also the headwater source for three of the continent’s great rivers: Columbia, Missouri and Saskatchewan that flow to the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, respectively. Headwaters originate in high elevation alpine environs characterized by high snow accumulations in winter and rainstorms in summer. Most headwaters of the region contain high quality waters with few ions in solution and extremely low nutrient concentrations. Alpine streams have few species of aquatic organisms; however, they often possess rare species and have hydrogeomorphic features that make them vulnerable to climatic change. Subalpine and valley bottom streams of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem (CCE) flow through well forested watersheds. Along the elevation gradient, the streams and rivers of the CCE flow through series of confining and nonconfining valleys resulting in distinct canyon and floodplain reaches. The alluvial floodplains are characterized by high species diversity and bioproduction maintained by the hydrologic linkages of habitats. The streams and rivers of the CCE have low nutrient concentrations, but may be significantly affected by wildfire, various resource extraction activities, such as logging or mining and exurban encroachment. Wildfire has been shown to increase nutrient loading in streams, both during a fire and then following the fire for as much as 5 years. Logging practices increase nutrient loading and the algal productivity of stream periphyton. Logging and associated roads are also known to increase sediment transport into Crown of the Continent streams directly affecting spawning success of native trout. The CCE is one of the fastest growing regions in the USA because of the many recreational amenities of the region. And, while the region has many remarkably pristine headwater streams and receiving rivers, there are many pending threats to water quality and quantity. One of the most urgent threats comes from the coal and gas fields in the northern part of the Crown of the Continent, where coal deposits are proposed for mountain‐top removal and open‐pit mining operations. This will have significant effects on the waters of the region, its native plants and animals and quality of life of the people.     

单次降水对高寒草地温室气体通量昼夜变化的影响研究

在全球变化背景下,青藏高原降水格局发生改变,并影响高寒草地温室气体排放.为了更好地认识降水变化与高寒草地温室气体排放的关系,在2015年7月24日,通过人工降水6.7 mm,研究了单次降水对高寒草地温室气体昼夜变化的影响.表明:(1)单次降水没有改变土壤温度,但显著增加了土壤湿度;(2)单次降水后24小时内,高寒草地CH4吸收量降低了2.46倍,CO2和N2 O排放量分别提高15.3%和98.9%;(3)单次降水弱化了高寒草地CH4和N2 O排放量与土壤温度的关系.     

模拟升温和放牧对高寒草甸土壤微生物群落的影响

通过开顶式温室(Open top chambers,OTCs)升温以及刈割+施加牛粪处理,应用磷脂脂肪酸(Phospholipid fatty acids,PLFAs)方法,研究了青藏高原东部高寒草甸土壤微生物群落结构对气候变暖和放牧的响应.结果表明,高寒草甸在生长季节,微生物群落以细菌为主.平均1.17℃的土壤升温使土壤微生物PLFAs总量增加34.58%,而春季割草结合牛粪施加使微生物PLFAs总量增加65.77%.模拟变暖和放牧均引起土壤微生物群落结构的显著变化.升温使细菌相对含量增加8.80%,而使真菌相对含量降低17.48%,细菌与真菌之比由7.3变为9.6.放牧使细菌相对含量增加8.40%,真菌相对含量降低14.04%,细菌与真菌之比由7.3变为9.2.OTCs升温+放牧处理比单独的升温或放牧处理对土壤微生物总量和细菌与真菌比值的影响更加明显.本研究表明,气候变暖和人类活动能够在短期内显著地改变青藏高原高寒草甸土壤微生物群落结构,进而可能影响这一地区的生态系统碳收支和养分循环.     

气候变化对长江源地区高寒草甸生态系统的影响

近十几年来，长江源区气候暖干化趋势明显，冰川退缩、湖泊萎缩、草场退化、土地沙漠化、水土流失等环境问题日益严重。高寒草甸是长江源地区主要的植被类型之一，在全球变化影响下，以耐低温寒冷的嵩草属（Kobresia）植物为建群种的高寒草甸将面临更严重的生态胁迫。以长江源地区高寒草甸生态系统为研究对象，采用国际通用的生物地球化学模型模拟高寒草甸生物量、生产力和土壤有机质等的动态变化，并综合考虑人类活动对生态系统生产力和营养元素生物地球化学循环的影响，探讨了全球气候变化对高寒草甸生态系统可能造成的影响。     

Phytodiversity of relict steppe enclaves in the Urals: Experience in comparative assessment

Unique mountain-steppe ecosystems in the Southern Urals have retained a high level of species and cenotic diversity, despite fragmentation and isolation. Specific features of these ecosystems are described.     

五道梁高寒草原土壤水分和植被盖度空间异质性的地统计分析

青藏高原高寒草原区,由于长期冻融和地下冰的存在形成了独特的生态水文结构,土壤水分是控制高寒草原生态过程的关键因子。利用地统计学对多年冻土区高寒草原土壤表层含水量和植被盖度的空间变异性进行研究,结果表明,高寒草原生态系统浅层剖面(0~50 cm)土壤水分和植被盖度均符合正态分布,土壤含水量沿垂直方向逐渐增大,介于19.43%~25.37%之间,变异系数介于23.77%~40.92%;植被盖度具有强变异性,变异系数为47.99%。0~50 cm土壤含水量具有高度的空间异质性,其中91.1%的空间异质性是由空间自相关部分引起的,主要体现在10~190 m的中尺度上;植被盖度在研究尺度上具有中等程度的空间自相关,植被盖度随机部分的空间变异性占总空间变异性的比例为34.2%,主要体现在10 m的尺度内。各向异性分析表明,土壤水分和植被盖度具有明显的各向异性,其空间格局有明显的差异。     

高寒草甸不同植被类型土壤全氮含量变化动态分析

采用凯氏定氮法对高寒草甸不同植被类型土壤全氮进行季节动态测定分析,结果表明:在整个生长季中0～20 cm层土壤全氮质量分数的顺序为:藏嵩草沼泽化草甸(Kobresia-swamp meadow)>露梅灌丛草甸(Dasiphoru fruticosa shrubs)>人工燕麦草地(Avena sativa artficial grassland)>矮嵩草草甸(Kobresia humilis meadow)>矮嵩草退化草地(Kobresia humilis-degraded grassland).原生植被草甸类型下单位面积土壤全氮含量远高于退化草地.藏嵩草沼泽化草甸土壤每平方米的全氮含量最高,达到0.712 kg,金露梅草甸次之,两者之间差异性不显著(p>0.05);其他三种草地类型单位面积土壤全氮含量差异性显著(p<0.05);原生草甸矮嵩草草甸每平方米全氮平均含量为0.406 kg,而退化的矮嵩草草地每平方米全氮平均含量为0.301 kg,可以推算,土地退化导致土壤全氮流失的量为0.105kg,即高寒草地退化导致25.86%氮流失.随着季节的变化,土壤全氮质量分数随生长季均有所增加,最高值都出现在8月份,但各月份之间土壤全氮质量分数变化差异性不显著(p>0.05).原生植被0～10 cm层土壤全氮含量高于10～2O cm层,人工草地与退化草地差异性不显著.     

基于大气成分观测网的山西省近地面O3体积分数分布特征

利用山西省6个大气成分观测站2019年3月至2020年2月的反应性气体O₃、NO、NO₂和NO_x连续观测资料以及同期气象资料,采用统计分析和后向轨迹分析等方法,对山西近地面O₃体积分数变化特征及影响因素进行了对比研究.结果表明,6个站的O₃体积分数一般在4~9月较高,10月至翌年3月较低,研究期内山西南部的晋城和临汾2站的O₃日最大8h体积分数滑动平均值φ（MDA8O₃）超标最严重,其次是北部的五台山、朔州和大同3站,中部的太原站O₃污染较轻.对比城市站和高山站发现,两类站点的O₃体积分数季节变化虽都表现为：夏季 > 春季 > 秋季 > 冬季,但前者主要受前体物NO_x光化学反应的影响,后者的NO_x并不是产生高体积分数O₃的主要来源;两类站点的O₃日变化谱型截然相反,城市站O₃小时平均体积分数的峰谷值分别出现在15：00和06：00,而高山站分别出现在20：00和10：00,分别比城市站滞后了约5 h;此外城市站的O₃日振幅明显大于高山站.就城市站而言,相较日照时数、降水量和总云量,气温对O₃体积分数的影响更为显著;白天的NO₂体积分数直接影响O₃的日振幅大小,尽管太原站O₃的光化学生成潜力也较高,由于被高体积分数的NO滴定消耗,O₃体积分数为城市站中最低;各城市站高体积分数的O₃对应低体积分数的NO_x,低NO_x以NO₂为主,高NO_x的贡献则主要来自NO,在较高NO_x体积分数时,O₃基本上完全被消耗.影响全部站点O₃体积分数升高的地面风主要来自东南、南和西南方向,特定的风速条件将导致站点O₃体积分数增加.站点地理位置不同会引起大气污染物输送作用的差异,而来自华北平原和汾渭平原高浓度O₃的水平输送很可能是造成山西各站点O₃体积分数升高的共同原因.