生物结皮的发育演替与微生物生物量变化

生物结皮在荒漠地区的生态恢复中具有重要的生态学意义,且不同发育演替阶段的结皮具有不同的生态功能.通过野外调查、显微观察结合微生物定量分析对腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头地区生物结皮的发育演替进行了研究.结果表明该地区的生物结皮一般按照"藻结皮→地衣结皮→藓结皮"的模式发育演替.随着结皮的发育演替,光合生物生物量逐渐增加,微藻生物量却呈现先增加后减少的趋势.其中,具鞘微鞘藻(Microcoleus vaginatus)作为结皮藻类中的第一优势种,在藻结皮中生物量最大,达到0.33 mm3·g-1,而爪哇伪枝藻(Scytonema javanicum)和(一种)念珠藻(Nostoc sp.)在晚期的地衣结皮中生物量达到最大.另外,研究发现异养微生物生物量在藻结皮中开始增加,但在地衣结皮中呈下降的趋势,最后在藓结皮中异养微生物生物量再次增加并达到最大.其中细菌数量的增加与结皮有机碳、Na+含量的增加显著相关(P<0.05),真菌数量的增加与K+、Na+含量的增加显著相关(P<0.05).本研究观察了沙坡头地区生物结皮发育演替的模式,并从环境适应与功能需求的角度探讨了生物结皮发育演替过程中微生物生物量的变化特征,对于理解结皮的发育演替以及荒漠化地区生态恢复过程中结皮的维护管理具有重要的理论与实践意义.     

干旱荒漠区植被恢复与重建的探讨

西北干旱荒漠区生境严酷，物种贫乏，植被稀疏低矮，加上不合理的开发利用，致生境恶化。利用当地有限的水源来实现干旱荒漠区的植被恢复，防止流沙蔓延，可以从以下两方面入手：一方面，以裸地为立地条件，利用当地的关键种(keystone specics)或优势种(dominant species)，选择合适的生境，采用人工种子库和幼苗移植等方法，促使已缺失的植物种在目的地重新定居；另一方面，利用灌丛效应选择合适物种加以配合，提高干旱荒漠区的植被盖度。研究表明：以上两种途径对实现干旱荒漠区的植被恢复和重建是可行的。     

塔克拉玛干绿洲外围胡杨林的水分特征研究

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘地区年均降水量不足50mm,胡杨在这一地区绿洲外围自然植被中占有重要地位.对塔克拉玛干沙漠绿洲外围胡杨林水分特征的研究表明,在生境地下水含量较稳定的条件下,胡杨林受到的水分胁迫程度不大,干旱胁迫未对胡杨林的持续存在构成主要威胁.胡杨的水分生理特点显示植物更加依靠稳定的水分供应来应对极端干旱的环境条件,并且在蒸腾作用中形成了细胞水平上的生理适应策略.因此,保持地下水的稳定是维持绿洲前沿天然胡杨林持续存在的关键因素.     

Effects of Artificial Sand Fixing on Community Characteristics of a Rare Desert Shrub

Eremosparton songoricum (Fabaceae) is a rare, native, clonal small shrub of the deserts of central Asia. Although human activities have greatly fragmented the distribution of E. songoricum, it occurs in areas where artificial sand fixing (AS) has been implemented. We sought to explore whether AS promotes survival and growth of E. songoricum. In the Gurbantunggut Desert of northwestern China in June 2010, we established 10 plots in an area where sand fixing occurred (5–10 years previously) and 11 plots on original sand substrate on which some plants had settled without fixing sand. Sand fixing changed soil properties and biological characteristics in sand‐fixed plots. The soil surface where sand fixing occurred was covered by algal crusts and some lichen, but not bare sand (BS). Soil nutrients; water content of deep soil (30–150 cm); overall plant and herbaceous species richness, diversity, abundance, and cover; above‐ and belowground biomass; and cover, biomass, and height of E. songoricum in the sand‐fixed plots were significantly greater than in plots of BS. However, distribution of E. songoricum individuals in the 2 types of plots did not differ. Our results indicate AS may enhance survival of E. songoricum and increase the overall diversity and stability of the desert plant community. We suggest AS as a way to protect this rare desert plant in situ. Efectos de la Fijación Artificial de Arena sobre las Características de la Comunidad de un Arbusto Desértico Raro     

Land Management in the American Southwest: A State-and-Transition Approach to Ecosystem Complexity

State-and-transition models are increasingly being used to guide rangeland management. These models provide a relatively simple, management-oriented way to classify land condition (state) and to describe the factors that might cause a shift to another state (a transition). There are many formulations of state-and-transition models in the literature. The version we endorse does not adhere to any particular generalities about ecosystem dynamics, but it includes consideration of several kinds of dynamics and management response to them. In contrast to previous uses of state-and-transition models, we propose that models can, at present, be most effectively used to specify and qualitatively compare the relative benefits and potential risks of different management actions (e.g., fire and grazing) and other factors (e.g., invasive species and climate change) on specified areas of land. High spatial and temporal variability and complex interactions preclude the meaningful use of general quantitative models. Forecasts can be made on a case-by-case basis by interpreting qualitative and quantitative indicators, historical data, and spatially structured monitoring data based on conceptual models. We illustrate how science- based conceptual models are created using several rangeland examples that vary in complexity. In doing so, we illustrate the implications of designating plant communities and states in models, accounting for varying scales of pattern in vegetation and soils, interpreting the presence of plant communities on different soils and dealing with our uncertainty about how those communities were assembled and how they will change in the future. We conclude with observations about how models have helped to improve management decision-making.     

DESERT HOUSE: A DEMONSTRATION/EXPERIMENT IN EFFICIENT DOMESTIC WATER AND ENERGY USE1

ABSTRACT: In May 1993, a single-family home and adjoining information center opened to the public at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Desert House is designed as an example of what can be achieved today using available technology to improve residential water and energy efficiency. The home is expected to reduce water and energy use by 40 percent compared with that for the typical three-bedroom, single-family residence in the Phoenix area. Water-conserving features include: landscape design employing low-water use plants, minimum turf area, mulch around plants to reduce evaporation, and drip irrigation system; spa cover for evaporation reduction; rainwater harvesting; low-flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets; and graywater reuse system. The home will be occupied by a family and monitored for water and energy use by computer. Visitors are able to access real time water and energy use data about the home, as well as tour the information center, technical exhibits, surrounding landscape, and the home when it is open (one afternoon a week).     

荒漠生态系统监测研究指标体系

新疆环境保护科学研究所自1984年接受“荒漠生态系统监测指标体系的观测研究”课题,在乌鲁木齐北部90km处的沙漠边缘建立了“准噶尔沙漠生态系统定位研究站”,自1987年正式开展了“荒漠生态系统定位观测研究”工作,从古尔班通沙漠中部至天山博格达峰中山带选定了沙漠、沙漠边缘、山前洪冲积扇、前山和中山带五个观测场,沙漠四季进行定位观测,同时,在站内进行多项目的连续观测,现集五年观测研究经验,结合中国科学院及国外研究站的先进经验,建立了荒漠生态系统指标体系。     

Phreatophytic Vegetation and Groundwater Fluctuations: A Review of Current Research and Application of Ecosystem Response Modeling with an Emphasis on Great Basin Vegetation

Although changes in depth to groundwater occur naturally, anthropogenic alterations may exacerbate these fluctuations and, thus, affect vegetation reliant on groundwater. These effects include changes in physiology, structure, and community dynamics, particularly in arid regions where groundwater can be an important water source for many plants. To properly manage ecosystems subject to changes in depth to groundwater, plant responses to both rising and falling groundwater tables must be understood. However, most research has focused exclusively on riparian ecosystems, ignoring regions where groundwater is available to a wider range of species. Here, we review responses of riparian and other species to changes in groundwater levels in arid environments. Although decreasing water tables often result in plant water stress and reduced live biomass, the converse is not necessarily true for rising water tables. Initially, rising water tables kill flooded roots because most species cannot tolerate the associated low oxygen levels. Thus, flooded plants can also experience water stress. Ultimately, individual species responses to either scenario depend on drought and flooding tolerance and the change in root system size and water uptake capacity. However, additional environmental and biological factors can play important roles in the severity of vegetation response to altered groundwater tables. Using the reviewed information, we created two conceptual models to highlight vegetation dynamics in areas with groundwater fluctuations. These models use flow charts to identify key vegetation and ecosystem properties and their responses to changes in groundwater tables to predict community responses. We then incorporated key concepts from these models into EDYS, a comprehensive ecosystem model, to highlight the potential complexity of predicting community change under different fluctuating groundwater scenarios. Such models provide a valuable tool for managing vegetation and groundwater use in areas where groundwater is important to both plants and humans, particularly in the context of climate change.     

Biodiversity Conservation in the Thar Desert; with Emphasis on Endemic and Medicinal Plants

The Indian desert, the Thar Desert, has its own importance and specific characteristics with respect to endemic and medicinal plants. Forty-five plant species are considered to be rare and/or endangered. The desert has a large number of plants of economic importance and medicinal use. The Thar Desert is thickly populated in comparison to other hot deserts of the world. 17.44 million people and 23.33 million livestock are recorded from the region. These populations exert pressure on the biological resources of the Thar Desert causing a lack of sustainability and necessitate conservation of biodiversity actions.