Tibetan alpine steppes are large and sensitive terrestrial carbon(C)reservoirs that are experiencing desertification due to global change and overgrazing,which can lead to stronger resource limitations for both above-...Tibetan alpine steppes are large and sensitive terrestrial carbon(C)reservoirs that are experiencing desertification due to global change and overgrazing,which can lead to stronger resource limitations for both above-and belowground communities.Soil nutrients,especially nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P),are the crucial resources for plant growth and microbial metabolism.However,whether both plant and soil microbial communities in the degraded alpine steppes are limited by these soil nutrients remains unclear,which limits our understanding of the mechanisms of desertification and subsequent ecosystem restoration.Here,we evaluated potential nutrient limitations of the plant and soil microbial communities in the alpine steppe across five stages of desertification using stoichiometry-based approaches.Our results showed that soil microbial metabolism was mainly limited by C and P,and the plant N limitation and microbial C limitation were intensified while the microbial P limitation was relieved during desertification.Plant-soil-microbe interactions had significant impacts on the microbial C and P limitations,explaining 72 and 61%of the variation,respectively.Specifically,desertification ultimately affected microbial metabolic limitations by regulating soil pH,soil nutrients,and the plant N limitation.Moreover,the microbial C limitation further reduced microbial C use efficiency(CUE)with desertification,which is detrimental for organic C retention in the degraded soil.Overall,this study revealed that microbial metabolic limitations through plant-microbe interactions were the key drivers affecting soil microbial CUE,and it provided insights that can advance our knowledge of the microbial regulation of nutrient cycles and C sequestration.展开更多
Alpine meadows,alpine wetlands,and alpine desert steppes are the three typical vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The complex terrain and harsh climatic conditions across this region lead to considerable di...Alpine meadows,alpine wetlands,and alpine desert steppes are the three typical vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The complex terrain and harsh climatic conditions across this region lead to considerable diversification in the vegetation growth environment,resulting in substantial spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem carbon flux and its controlling mechanisms.Using eddy covariance data collected from March to August 2019,this study examined the responses of carbon and water fluxes in different ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau to typical hydrometeorological factors,focusing on Net Ecosystem CO□Exchange(NEE)and Evapotranspiration(ET).The results indicate that:1)The Longbao alpine wetland primarily acted as a carbon sink from May to August,while serving as a carbon source from March to April.In the Maqin alpine meadow,it functioned as a carbon sink during June and July but acted as a carbon source in March,April,May,and August.The Tuotuohe alpine desert strppe was predominantly a net carbon sink from March to August.Overall,after the entire growing season(March to August),the Longbao alpine wetlands,Maqin alpine meadow,and Tuotuohe alpine desert steppe all showed net carbon sink properties,with net CO_(2)uptakes of 236.12 g/m^(2),291.45 g/m^(2),and 290.28 g/m^(2),respectively.2)The importance of meteorological factors to NEE varies with scale and ecosystem type,with global radiation(Rg)being the most critical factor influencing NEE variation.Volumetric soil water content(Soil_VWC)and soil temperature(Soil_T)had a positive effect on NEE at Maqin alpine meadow and Tuotuohe alpine desert steppe,while higher values of these variables showed a negative contribution.Furthermore,the sensitivity of NEE to Soil_T at Longbao alpine wetland and Tuotuohe alpine desert steppe was greater than its sensitivity to air temperature(Tair).3)The effect of Gross Primary Productivity(GPP)on NEE in alpine desert steppes is significantly greater than in alpine meadows.Both Ecosystem Respiration(Reco)and NEE were substantially limited by GPP,with 84%of GPP in alpine wetlands contributing to Reco and 16%to NEE;92%of GPP in alpine meadows contributing to Reco and 8%to NEE;and 40%of GPP in high-altitude desert grasslands contributing to Reco and 60%to NEE.4)The strong correlation between NEE and evapotranspiration suggests that water availability is the primary factor controlling changes in the carbon and water budgets of alpine ecosystems.展开更多
This paper evaluated the impacts of mounds created by the plateau pika （Ochotona curzoniae） on the vegetation composition, structure, and species diversity of an alpine Kobresia steppe meadow in Nagqu County, Tibet ...This paper evaluated the impacts of mounds created by the plateau pika （Ochotona curzoniae） on the vegetation composition, structure, and species diversity of an alpine Kobresia steppe meadow in Nagqu County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Based on mound height or the depth of erosion pit, we defined five stages of erosion and compared the floristic features of communities at these stages with those in undisturbed sites. In the study area, the mounds and pits covered up to 7% of the total area. Lancea tibetica, Lamiophlomis rotata, and Potentilla biflarca were the dominant species in erosion pits, and Kobresia pygmaea, the dominant species in undisturbed sites, became a companion species in eroded areas. In the process of erosion, the original vegetation was covered by soil ejected by the pika, then the mounds were gradually eroded by wind and rain, and finally erosion pits formed. The vegetation coverage increased with increasing erosion stages but remained significantly lower than that in undisturbed sites. Improved coverage eventually reduced soil erosion, and pit depth eventually stabilized at around 20cm. Aboveground biomass increased with increasing erosion stage, but the proportion of low-quality forage reached more than 94%. The richness index and Shannon-Wiener index increased significantly with increasing erosion stage, but the richness index in mound and pit areas was significantly lower than that in undisturbed sites.展开更多
The temporal dynamics of the biomass, as well as the carbon （C）, nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P） concentrations and accumulation contents, in above- and below-ground vegetation components were determined in the alp...The temporal dynamics of the biomass, as well as the carbon （C）, nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P） concentrations and accumulation contents, in above- and below-ground vegetation components were determined in the alpine steppe vegetation of Northern Tibet during the growing season of 2OLO. The highest levels of total biomass （311.68 g m-2）, total C （115.95 g m-2）, total N （2.60 g m-2）, and total P （0.90 g m-2） accumulation contents were obtained in August in 2010. Further, biomass and nutrient stocks in the below-ground components were higher than those of the above-ground components. The dominant species viz., Stipa purpurea and Carex moorcrofli had lower biomass and C, N, P accumulations than the companion species which including Oxytropis. spp., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Aster tataricus L., and SO on.展开更多
The biodiversity-productivity relationship is an important topic in the research of biodiversity and ecosystem function. The plant diversity productivity pattern is commonly unimodal and positively correlated. This pa...The biodiversity-productivity relationship is an important topic in the research of biodiversity and ecosystem function. The plant diversity productivity pattern is commonly unimodal and positively correlated. This paper researches the characteristics of plant diversity-productivity patterns in the Bayanbuluk alpine steppe in the central Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China, and analyzes the effects of environmental factors on the distribution of plant communities, species composition, plant diversity and productivity in the steppe. The results show a positive correlation between plant diversity and productivity. DCCA (detrended canonical correspondence analysis) ordination reveals a significant relationship between the effects of air temperature, soil moisture content, available soil nitrogen, relative humidity and pH value on the distribution and composition of plant communities. There are significant correlations between the soil moisture content, relative humidity, pH value, air temperature and species richness and the aboveground biomass of Gramineae and Cyperaceae, and also significant correlations between the relative humidity, pH values and the total aboveground biomass of plant communities.展开更多
The impacts of desertification on the vegetation composition, structure, and species diversity of alpine Kobresia steppe meadow were evaluated in an area of severe desertification in Anduo County, Tibet Autonomous Reg...The impacts of desertification on the vegetation composition, structure, and species diversity of alpine Kobresia steppe meadow were evaluated in an area of severe desertification in Anduo County, Tibet Autonomous Region, northern China. We investigated and analyzed the floristic features of communities at four different stages of desertification (slight desertification [SLD], moderate desertification [MD], severe desertification [SD], and very severe desertification [VSD]). The composition and structure of the alpine Kobresia steppe meadow at the SLD site differed significantly from that at the MD, SD, and VSD sites. Species that were more drought resistant and inedible by livestock were the dominant species at the SD site. No plants were found in the shifting dunes of the VSD site. Species diversity also decreased with increasing desertification. The SLD site had the largest mean number of species and individuals and the largest richness index; the MD grassland had the largest Shannon-Wiener index and evenness index, but the smallest Simpson’s index. The vegetation cover declined from 91.8% to 34.8% as desertification increased from SLD to SD, and reached 0% in VSD areas with shifting dunes.展开更多
The methane concentration profile from -1.5m depth in soil to 32m height in air was measured in alpine steppe lo-cated in the permafrost area. Methane concentrations showed widely variations both in air and in soil du...The methane concentration profile from -1.5m depth in soil to 32m height in air was measured in alpine steppe lo-cated in the permafrost area. Methane concentrations showed widely variations both in air and in soil during the study period. The mean concentrations in atmosphere were all higher than those in soil, and the highest methane concentration was found in air at the height of 16m with the lowest concentration occur-ring at the depth of 1.5m in soil. The variations of atmospheric methane concentrations did not show any clear pattern both temporally and spatially, although they exhibited a more steady-stable state than those in soil. During the seasonal variations, the methane concentrations at different depths in soil were sig-nificantly correlated (R2>0.6) with each other comparing to the weak correlations (R2<0.2) between the atmospheric concentra-tions at different heights. Mean methane concentrations in soil significantly decreased with depth. This was the compositive influence of the decreasing production rates and the increasing methane oxidation rates, which was caused by the descent soil moisture with depth. Although the methane concentrations at all depths varied widely during the growing season, they showed very distinct temporal variations in the non-growing season. It was indicated from the literatures that methane oxidation rates were positively correlated with soil temperature. The higher methane concentrations in soil during the winter were deter-mined by the lower methane oxidation rates with decreasing soil temperatures, whereas methane production rates had no reaction to the lower temperature. Relations between methane contribution and other environmental factors were not discussed in this paper for lacking of data, which impulse us to carry out further and more detailed studies in this unique area.展开更多
Background Soil respiration(Rs)is critical for maintaining the terrestrial carbon(C)cycling,and considerable research has focused on its response to climate warming.However,our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of th...Background Soil respiration(Rs)is critical for maintaining the terrestrial carbon(C)cycling,and considerable research has focused on its response to climate warming.However,our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of the plant functional composition on Rs is limited.We conducted a 2-year field warming experiment to explore Rs responses to different warming levels across three types of alpine grasslands:alpine steppe(AS)dominated by grasses,alpine meadow(AM)and alpine swamp meadow(ASM),both of the latter two dominated by sedges.Results Our findings revealed contrasting effects of warming on Rs across three alpine grassland types:minimal change in the AS,a significant 24%increase in the AM,and a 20%decrease in the ASM.Dominant plant functional groups in each grassland type play an important role in regulating the response of Rs to warming.Moreover,we found a negative correlation between plant height and Rs in the grass-dominated AS and sedge-dominated AM.However,there was no correlation between plant height and Rs in ASM.Furthermore,Rs was regulated by both soil moisture and soil temperature,while in ASM it was constrained by soil moisture levels.Conclusions Our results underscore the importance of incorporating plant functional composition mechanisms when assessing ecosystem C balance under climate warming.Future studies should consider the ecosystem-specific characteristics when investigating the connections between plant community structure,traits,and ecosystem function.展开更多
Rangelands occupy more than 80% of the agricultural land in Kyrgyzstan. At least 30% of Kyrgyz pasture areas are considered to be subject to vegetation and soil degradation. Since animal husbandry is the economic basi...Rangelands occupy more than 80% of the agricultural land in Kyrgyzstan. At least 30% of Kyrgyz pasture areas are considered to be subject to vegetation and soil degradation. Since animal husbandry is the economic basis to sustain people＇s livelihoods, rangeland degradation presents a threat for the majority of the population. We present for the first time an ecological assessment of different pasture types in a remote area of the Naryn Oblast, using vegetation and softs as indicators of rangeland conditions. We analysed the current degree of utilization （grazing pressure）, the amount of biomass, soil samples, and vegetation data, using cluster analysis as well as ordination techniques. Winter pastures （kyshtoo） are characterized by higher pH values （average of 7.27） and lower organic matter contents （average of 12.83%） compared to summer pastures （dzailoo） with average pH values of 6.03 and average organic matter contents of 21.05%. Additionally, summer pastures show higher above- ground biomass, and higher species richness and diversity. Our results support the hypothesis that winter pastures, which are located near settlements, suffer from over-utilisation, while the more distant summer pastures are subjected to much lower grazing pressure,展开更多
Precipitation is a potential factor that significantly affects plant nutrient pools by influencing biomass sizes and nutrient concentrations. However, few studies have explicitly dissected carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and p...Precipitation is a potential factor that significantly affects plant nutrient pools by influencing biomass sizes and nutrient concentrations. However, few studies have explicitly dissected carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) pools between above- and belowground biomass at the community level along a precipitation gradient. We conducted a transect(approx. 1300 km long) study of Stipa purpurea community in alpine steppe on the Tibet Plateau of China to test the variation of N pool of aboveground biomass/N pool of belowground biomass(AB/BB N) and P pool of aboveground biomass/P pool of belowground biomass(AB/BB P) along a precipitation gradient. The proportion of aboveground biomass decreased significantly from mesic to drier sites. Along the belt transect, the plant N concentration was relatively stable; thus, AB/BB N increased with moisture due to the major influences by above- and belowground biomass allocation. However, P concentration of aboveground biomass decreased significantly with increasing precipitation and AB/BB P did not vary with aridity because of the offset effect of the P concentration and biomass allocation. Precipitation gradients do decouple the N and P pool of a S. purpurea community along a precipitation gradient in alpine steppe. The decreasing of N:P in aboveground biomass in drier regions may indicate much stronger N limitation in more arid area.展开更多
Enclosure is one of the most widely used management tools for degraded alpine grassland on the northern Tibetan Plateau, but the responses of different types of grassland to enclosure may vary, and research on these r...Enclosure is one of the most widely used management tools for degraded alpine grassland on the northern Tibetan Plateau, but the responses of different types of grassland to enclosure may vary, and research on these responses can provide a scientific basis for improving ecological conservation. This study took one site for each of three grassland types(alpine meadow, alpine steppe and alpine desert) on the northern Tibetan Plateau as examples, and explored the effects of enclosure on plant and soil nutrients by comparing differences in plant community biomass, leaf-soil nutrient content and their stoichiometry between samples from inside and outside the fence. The results showed that enclosure can significantly increase all aboveground biomass in these three grassland types, but it only increased the 10–20 cm underground biomass in the alpine desert. Enclosure also significantly increased the leaf nutrient content of the dominant plants and contents of total nitrogen(N), total potassium(K), and organic carbon(C) in 10–20 cm soil in alpine desert, thus changing the stoichiometry between C, N and P(phosphorus). However, enclosure significantly increased only the N content of dominant plant leaves in alpine steppe, while other nutrients and stoichiometries of both plant leaves and soil did not show significant differences in alpine meadow and alpine steppe. These results suggested that enclosure has differential effects on these three types of alpine grasslands on the northern Tibetan Plateau, and the alpine desert showed the most active ecological conservation in the responses of its soil and plant nutrients.展开更多
Aims As a unique geographical unit of the earth,the tibetan Plateau is extensively covered by various Stipa communities.However,their vegetation features have not been reported systematically till now,especially in so...Aims As a unique geographical unit of the earth,the tibetan Plateau is extensively covered by various Stipa communities.However,their vegetation features have not been reported systematically till now,especially in some scantily explored regions.In this study,we endeavor to reveal the community types,quantitative charac-teristics and climatic distribution patterns of Stipa steppes in these areas based on primary relevés obtained from fieldwork.Methods We collected a total of 223 plots in 79 study sites in the Changthang Plateau and the Yarlung Zangbo Valley,ranging from 79°E to 91°E.the categories of Stipa formations were identified according to the classification scheme in Vegetation of China and then verified by Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling.We performed detrended correspondence analysis and detrended canonical correspondence analysis to hunt for the alteration of Stipa communities along the precipitation gradient.Quantitative characteristics including species richness,coverage,biomass as well as importance values(IV)of dominant species were calcu-lated and visualized,respectively.Important Findings Stipa steppes in scantily explored regions of the tibetan Plateau are classified into 11 formations but major formations are rather limited in number.Formation(form.)Stipa purpurea is the most widespread Stipa assemblages not only in scantily explored regions but also across the whole tibetan Plateau.the characteristics of Stipa com-munities,including coverage,species richness,productivity and IV of dominant species,demonstrate the features of typical alpine steppes on the tibetan Plateau.Precipitation proves to be the prime climatic factor controlling the distribution patterns of Stipa assemblages.Form.Stipa subsessiliflora var.basiplumosa and form.Stipa glareosa normally distribute in arid habitats,but rainfall for the former is of greater variance.Form.Stipa roborowskyi and form.Stipa capillacea favor moderately moist environment.Form.Stipa purpurea and form.Stipa roborowskyi can tolerate a fairly broad range of precipitation.展开更多
Aims Human activities and global changes have led to alterations in global and regional precipitation regimes.Despite extensive studies on the effects of changes in precipitation regimes on plant community composition...Aims Human activities and global changes have led to alterations in global and regional precipitation regimes.Despite extensive studies on the effects of changes in precipitation regimes on plant community composition across different types of grassland worldwide,few studies have specifically focused on the effects of precipitation changes on high-altitude alpine steppe at community and plant species levels in the Tibetan Plateau.Methods We investigated the effects of growing-season precipitation changes(reduced precipitation by 50%,ambient precipitation,enhanced precipitation by 50%)for 6 years on plant community composition in an alpine steppe of the Tibetan Plateau by linking above-to belowground traits of dominant species.Important Findings We found that reduced precipitation shifted community composition from dominance by bunchgrass(primarily Stipa purpurea)to dominance by rhizomatous grass(primarily Leymus secalinus).Roots and leaf traits of L.secalinus and S.purpurea differed in their responses to reduced precipitation.Reduced precipitation enhanced root vertical length and carbon(C)allocation to deep soil layers,and decreased the leaf width in L.secalinus,but it did not change the traits in S.purpurea.Moreover,reduced precipitation significantly enhanced rhizome biomass,length,diameter and adventitious root at the rhizome nodes in L.secalinus.These changes in traits may render rhizomatous grass greater competitive during drought stress.Therefore,our findings highlight important roles of above-and belowground traits of dominant species in plant community composition of alpine steppe under precipitation change.展开更多
Background Changes in precipitation alter soil moisture,thereby afecting the aboveground and belowground ecological processes.However,it remains unclear whether plant root systems alter these efects through rhizospher...Background Changes in precipitation alter soil moisture,thereby afecting the aboveground and belowground ecological processes.However,it remains unclear whether plant root systems alter these efects through rhizospheric processes.In this study,a precipitation control experiment was conducted in the alpine grassland of northern Xizang to simulate precipitation changes with a 50%decrease and 50%increase in precipitation.Nutrient and microbial biomass,root traits,and survival strategies in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of the dominant plant,Stipa purpurea,were analyzed for alterations under precipitation changes.Results Increased precipitation(IP)signifcantly decreased the rhizosphere soil total phosphorus and bulk soil ammonium nitrogen and increased the rhizosphere soil total potassium.Decreasing precipitation(DP)signifcantly increased the rhizosphere soil total potassium and decreased the bulk soil total potassium.DP signifcantly reduced microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in rhizosphere soil,while IP signifcantly increased the bulk soil MBC:MBP,soil C:P imbalance,and soil N:P imbalance.Along the PC1 axis,where the contribution of the traits was relatively large,it was possible to defne the root economic spectrum.The root system of Stipa purpurea from the DP treatment was distributed on the conservative side of the economic spectrum,whereas that from the control and IP treatments were clustered on the acquisition side.Conclusions Increasing and decreasing precipitation mainly afected the contents of total phosphorus and total potassium in rhizosphere soil and the contents of ammonium nitrogen and total potassium in bulk soil of Stipa purpurea.The microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus were mainly afected by a decrease in precipitation.Decreasing precipitation signifcantly reduced microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus,but the rhizosphere MBC:MBN,MBC:MBP and MBN:MBP remained stable under the change of precipitation.Increasing precipitation exacerbated the C:P imbalance and N:P imbalance in bulk soil,and increased the demand for phosphorus by bulk microorganisms.Increased precipitation promoted root access to resources.The root system of Stipa purpurea in the context of precipitation changes was driven by rhizosphere nutrients and bulk microorganisms.This study is important for revealing plant–microbe–soil interactions in terrestrial ecosystems.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF1304304)。
文摘Tibetan alpine steppes are large and sensitive terrestrial carbon(C)reservoirs that are experiencing desertification due to global change and overgrazing,which can lead to stronger resource limitations for both above-and belowground communities.Soil nutrients,especially nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P),are the crucial resources for plant growth and microbial metabolism.However,whether both plant and soil microbial communities in the degraded alpine steppes are limited by these soil nutrients remains unclear,which limits our understanding of the mechanisms of desertification and subsequent ecosystem restoration.Here,we evaluated potential nutrient limitations of the plant and soil microbial communities in the alpine steppe across five stages of desertification using stoichiometry-based approaches.Our results showed that soil microbial metabolism was mainly limited by C and P,and the plant N limitation and microbial C limitation were intensified while the microbial P limitation was relieved during desertification.Plant-soil-microbe interactions had significant impacts on the microbial C and P limitations,explaining 72 and 61%of the variation,respectively.Specifically,desertification ultimately affected microbial metabolic limitations by regulating soil pH,soil nutrients,and the plant N limitation.Moreover,the microbial C limitation further reduced microbial C use efficiency(CUE)with desertification,which is detrimental for organic C retention in the degraded soil.Overall,this study revealed that microbial metabolic limitations through plant-microbe interactions were the key drivers affecting soil microbial CUE,and it provided insights that can advance our knowledge of the microbial regulation of nutrient cycles and C sequestration.
基金supported in part by the Fundamental Research Project of the Science and Technology Department of the Qinghai Province(Grant No.2025-ZJ-739)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U21A2021)+1 种基金the Open Fund of Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Neutral Key Laboratory of Qinghai Province(Grant No.ZDXM-2023-3)the Key Projects of Qinghai Meteorological Bureau(Grant No.QXZD2024-08)。
文摘Alpine meadows,alpine wetlands,and alpine desert steppes are the three typical vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The complex terrain and harsh climatic conditions across this region lead to considerable diversification in the vegetation growth environment,resulting in substantial spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem carbon flux and its controlling mechanisms.Using eddy covariance data collected from March to August 2019,this study examined the responses of carbon and water fluxes in different ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau to typical hydrometeorological factors,focusing on Net Ecosystem CO□Exchange(NEE)and Evapotranspiration(ET).The results indicate that:1)The Longbao alpine wetland primarily acted as a carbon sink from May to August,while serving as a carbon source from March to April.In the Maqin alpine meadow,it functioned as a carbon sink during June and July but acted as a carbon source in March,April,May,and August.The Tuotuohe alpine desert strppe was predominantly a net carbon sink from March to August.Overall,after the entire growing season(March to August),the Longbao alpine wetlands,Maqin alpine meadow,and Tuotuohe alpine desert steppe all showed net carbon sink properties,with net CO_(2)uptakes of 236.12 g/m^(2),291.45 g/m^(2),and 290.28 g/m^(2),respectively.2)The importance of meteorological factors to NEE varies with scale and ecosystem type,with global radiation(Rg)being the most critical factor influencing NEE variation.Volumetric soil water content(Soil_VWC)and soil temperature(Soil_T)had a positive effect on NEE at Maqin alpine meadow and Tuotuohe alpine desert steppe,while higher values of these variables showed a negative contribution.Furthermore,the sensitivity of NEE to Soil_T at Longbao alpine wetland and Tuotuohe alpine desert steppe was greater than its sensitivity to air temperature(Tair).3)The effect of Gross Primary Productivity(GPP)on NEE in alpine desert steppes is significantly greater than in alpine meadows.Both Ecosystem Respiration(Reco)and NEE were substantially limited by GPP,with 84%of GPP in alpine wetlands contributing to Reco and 16%to NEE;92%of GPP in alpine meadows contributing to Reco and 8%to NEE;and 40%of GPP in high-altitude desert grasslands contributing to Reco and 60%to NEE.4)The strong correlation between NEE and evapotranspiration suggests that water availability is the primary factor controlling changes in the carbon and water budgets of alpine ecosystems.
基金Under the auspices of the Science and Technology Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region (No. 200101046)
文摘This paper evaluated the impacts of mounds created by the plateau pika （Ochotona curzoniae） on the vegetation composition, structure, and species diversity of an alpine Kobresia steppe meadow in Nagqu County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Based on mound height or the depth of erosion pit, we defined five stages of erosion and compared the floristic features of communities at these stages with those in undisturbed sites. In the study area, the mounds and pits covered up to 7% of the total area. Lancea tibetica, Lamiophlomis rotata, and Potentilla biflarca were the dominant species in erosion pits, and Kobresia pygmaea, the dominant species in undisturbed sites, became a companion species in eroded areas. In the process of erosion, the original vegetation was covered by soil ejected by the pika, then the mounds were gradually eroded by wind and rain, and finally erosion pits formed. The vegetation coverage increased with increasing erosion stages but remained significantly lower than that in undisturbed sites. Improved coverage eventually reduced soil erosion, and pit depth eventually stabilized at around 20cm. Aboveground biomass increased with increasing erosion stage, but the proportion of low-quality forage reached more than 94%. The richness index and Shannon-Wiener index increased significantly with increasing erosion stage, but the richness index in mound and pit areas was significantly lower than that in undisturbed sites.
基金funded by One Hundred Young Persons Project of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (No.SDSQB-2010-02)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.41001177)Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nos.KZCX2-YW-QN31,KZCX2-XB3-08)
文摘The temporal dynamics of the biomass, as well as the carbon （C）, nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P） concentrations and accumulation contents, in above- and below-ground vegetation components were determined in the alpine steppe vegetation of Northern Tibet during the growing season of 2OLO. The highest levels of total biomass （311.68 g m-2）, total C （115.95 g m-2）, total N （2.60 g m-2）, and total P （0.90 g m-2） accumulation contents were obtained in August in 2010. Further, biomass and nutrient stocks in the below-ground components were higher than those of the above-ground components. The dominant species viz., Stipa purpurea and Carex moorcrofli had lower biomass and C, N, P accumulations than the companion species which including Oxytropis. spp., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Aster tataricus L., and SO on.
基金supported by the Global Environmental Foundation (The grassland program of Xinjiang province,China)
文摘The biodiversity-productivity relationship is an important topic in the research of biodiversity and ecosystem function. The plant diversity productivity pattern is commonly unimodal and positively correlated. This paper researches the characteristics of plant diversity-productivity patterns in the Bayanbuluk alpine steppe in the central Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China, and analyzes the effects of environmental factors on the distribution of plant communities, species composition, plant diversity and productivity in the steppe. The results show a positive correlation between plant diversity and productivity. DCCA (detrended canonical correspondence analysis) ordination reveals a significant relationship between the effects of air temperature, soil moisture content, available soil nitrogen, relative humidity and pH value on the distribution and composition of plant communities. There are significant correlations between the soil moisture content, relative humidity, pH value, air temperature and species richness and the aboveground biomass of Gramineae and Cyperaceae, and also significant correlations between the relative humidity, pH values and the total aboveground biomass of plant communities.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40271012)the Science & Technology Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region (Grant No. 200101046)PHD foundation of Foshan university
文摘The impacts of desertification on the vegetation composition, structure, and species diversity of alpine Kobresia steppe meadow were evaluated in an area of severe desertification in Anduo County, Tibet Autonomous Region, northern China. We investigated and analyzed the floristic features of communities at four different stages of desertification (slight desertification [SLD], moderate desertification [MD], severe desertification [SD], and very severe desertification [VSD]). The composition and structure of the alpine Kobresia steppe meadow at the SLD site differed significantly from that at the MD, SD, and VSD sites. Species that were more drought resistant and inedible by livestock were the dominant species at the SD site. No plants were found in the shifting dunes of the VSD site. Species diversity also decreased with increasing desertification. The SLD site had the largest mean number of species and individuals and the largest richness index; the MD grassland had the largest Shannon-Wiener index and evenness index, but the smallest Simpson’s index. The vegetation cover declined from 91.8% to 34.8% as desertification increased from SLD to SD, and reached 0% in VSD areas with shifting dunes.
基金funded by The National Basic Research Program (Grant No. G1998040800)Pre-studies project of National Basic Research Program (Grant No. 2005CCA05500)
文摘The methane concentration profile from -1.5m depth in soil to 32m height in air was measured in alpine steppe lo-cated in the permafrost area. Methane concentrations showed widely variations both in air and in soil during the study period. The mean concentrations in atmosphere were all higher than those in soil, and the highest methane concentration was found in air at the height of 16m with the lowest concentration occur-ring at the depth of 1.5m in soil. The variations of atmospheric methane concentrations did not show any clear pattern both temporally and spatially, although they exhibited a more steady-stable state than those in soil. During the seasonal variations, the methane concentrations at different depths in soil were sig-nificantly correlated (R2>0.6) with each other comparing to the weak correlations (R2<0.2) between the atmospheric concentra-tions at different heights. Mean methane concentrations in soil significantly decreased with depth. This was the compositive influence of the decreasing production rates and the increasing methane oxidation rates, which was caused by the descent soil moisture with depth. Although the methane concentrations at all depths varied widely during the growing season, they showed very distinct temporal variations in the non-growing season. It was indicated from the literatures that methane oxidation rates were positively correlated with soil temperature. The higher methane concentrations in soil during the winter were deter-mined by the lower methane oxidation rates with decreasing soil temperatures, whereas methane production rates had no reaction to the lower temperature. Relations between methane contribution and other environmental factors were not discussed in this paper for lacking of data, which impulse us to carry out further and more detailed studies in this unique area.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Joint Fund Project(U21A20186)the International Cooperation Project of Key Research and Development and Transformation in Qinghai Province(2024-HZ-810)+1 种基金the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK0302)the project of“No-till replanting technology to promote the production and ecological function of heavily degraded alpine grasslands”(QLC2024TG14)
文摘Background Soil respiration(Rs)is critical for maintaining the terrestrial carbon(C)cycling,and considerable research has focused on its response to climate warming.However,our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of the plant functional composition on Rs is limited.We conducted a 2-year field warming experiment to explore Rs responses to different warming levels across three types of alpine grasslands:alpine steppe(AS)dominated by grasses,alpine meadow(AM)and alpine swamp meadow(ASM),both of the latter two dominated by sedges.Results Our findings revealed contrasting effects of warming on Rs across three alpine grassland types:minimal change in the AS,a significant 24%increase in the AM,and a 20%decrease in the ASM.Dominant plant functional groups in each grassland type play an important role in regulating the response of Rs to warming.Moreover,we found a negative correlation between plant height and Rs in the grass-dominated AS and sedge-dominated AM.However,there was no correlation between plant height and Rs in ASM.Furthermore,Rs was regulated by both soil moisture and soil temperature,while in ASM it was constrained by soil moisture levels.Conclusions Our results underscore the importance of incorporating plant functional composition mechanisms when assessing ecosystem C balance under climate warming.Future studies should consider the ecosystem-specific characteristics when investigating the connections between plant community structure,traits,and ecosystem function.
基金funded by BMBF(Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung,Germany)(Ff E_IB-074)the context of the joint project TRANSPAST
文摘Rangelands occupy more than 80% of the agricultural land in Kyrgyzstan. At least 30% of Kyrgyz pasture areas are considered to be subject to vegetation and soil degradation. Since animal husbandry is the economic basis to sustain people＇s livelihoods, rangeland degradation presents a threat for the majority of the population. We present for the first time an ecological assessment of different pasture types in a remote area of the Naryn Oblast, using vegetation and softs as indicators of rangeland conditions. We analysed the current degree of utilization （grazing pressure）, the amount of biomass, soil samples, and vegetation data, using cluster analysis as well as ordination techniques. Winter pastures （kyshtoo） are characterized by higher pH values （average of 7.27） and lower organic matter contents （average of 12.83%） compared to summer pastures （dzailoo） with average pH values of 6.03 and average organic matter contents of 21.05%. Additionally, summer pastures show higher above- ground biomass, and higher species richness and diversity. Our results support the hypothesis that winter pastures, which are located near settlements, suffer from over-utilisation, while the more distant summer pastures are subjected to much lower grazing pressure,
基金supported by the Western Action Plan Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KZCX2-XB3-08)the Strategic Pilot Science and Technology Projects of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB03030505)the National Key Technology Research and Design Program of China(Grant No.2010BAE00739-03)
文摘Precipitation is a potential factor that significantly affects plant nutrient pools by influencing biomass sizes and nutrient concentrations. However, few studies have explicitly dissected carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) pools between above- and belowground biomass at the community level along a precipitation gradient. We conducted a transect(approx. 1300 km long) study of Stipa purpurea community in alpine steppe on the Tibet Plateau of China to test the variation of N pool of aboveground biomass/N pool of belowground biomass(AB/BB N) and P pool of aboveground biomass/P pool of belowground biomass(AB/BB P) along a precipitation gradient. The proportion of aboveground biomass decreased significantly from mesic to drier sites. Along the belt transect, the plant N concentration was relatively stable; thus, AB/BB N increased with moisture due to the major influences by above- and belowground biomass allocation. However, P concentration of aboveground biomass decreased significantly with increasing precipitation and AB/BB P did not vary with aridity because of the offset effect of the P concentration and biomass allocation. Precipitation gradients do decouple the N and P pool of a S. purpurea community along a precipitation gradient in alpine steppe. The decreasing of N:P in aboveground biomass in drier regions may indicate much stronger N limitation in more arid area.
基金The Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA19050502,XDA20010201)The National Key Research Projects of China(2017YFA0604801,2016YFC0502001)The National Natural Science Foundation of China(31770477)。
文摘Enclosure is one of the most widely used management tools for degraded alpine grassland on the northern Tibetan Plateau, but the responses of different types of grassland to enclosure may vary, and research on these responses can provide a scientific basis for improving ecological conservation. This study took one site for each of three grassland types(alpine meadow, alpine steppe and alpine desert) on the northern Tibetan Plateau as examples, and explored the effects of enclosure on plant and soil nutrients by comparing differences in plant community biomass, leaf-soil nutrient content and their stoichiometry between samples from inside and outside the fence. The results showed that enclosure can significantly increase all aboveground biomass in these three grassland types, but it only increased the 10–20 cm underground biomass in the alpine desert. Enclosure also significantly increased the leaf nutrient content of the dominant plants and contents of total nitrogen(N), total potassium(K), and organic carbon(C) in 10–20 cm soil in alpine desert, thus changing the stoichiometry between C, N and P(phosphorus). However, enclosure significantly increased only the N content of dominant plant leaves in alpine steppe, while other nutrients and stoichiometries of both plant leaves and soil did not show significant differences in alpine meadow and alpine steppe. These results suggested that enclosure has differential effects on these three types of alpine grasslands on the northern Tibetan Plateau, and the alpine desert showed the most active ecological conservation in the responses of its soil and plant nutrients.
基金Key Program of National Fundamental Scientific Research funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China:Integrated Scientific Investigation in Data-deficient Regions of the Tibetan Plateau(2012FY111400)Redaction of Vegetation of China(2015FY210200).
文摘Aims As a unique geographical unit of the earth,the tibetan Plateau is extensively covered by various Stipa communities.However,their vegetation features have not been reported systematically till now,especially in some scantily explored regions.In this study,we endeavor to reveal the community types,quantitative charac-teristics and climatic distribution patterns of Stipa steppes in these areas based on primary relevés obtained from fieldwork.Methods We collected a total of 223 plots in 79 study sites in the Changthang Plateau and the Yarlung Zangbo Valley,ranging from 79°E to 91°E.the categories of Stipa formations were identified according to the classification scheme in Vegetation of China and then verified by Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling.We performed detrended correspondence analysis and detrended canonical correspondence analysis to hunt for the alteration of Stipa communities along the precipitation gradient.Quantitative characteristics including species richness,coverage,biomass as well as importance values(IV)of dominant species were calcu-lated and visualized,respectively.Important Findings Stipa steppes in scantily explored regions of the tibetan Plateau are classified into 11 formations but major formations are rather limited in number.Formation(form.)Stipa purpurea is the most widespread Stipa assemblages not only in scantily explored regions but also across the whole tibetan Plateau.the characteristics of Stipa com-munities,including coverage,species richness,productivity and IV of dominant species,demonstrate the features of typical alpine steppes on the tibetan Plateau.Precipitation proves to be the prime climatic factor controlling the distribution patterns of Stipa assemblages.Form.Stipa subsessiliflora var.basiplumosa and form.Stipa glareosa normally distribute in arid habitats,but rainfall for the former is of greater variance.Form.Stipa roborowskyi and form.Stipa capillacea favor moderately moist environment.Form.Stipa purpurea and form.Stipa roborowskyi can tolerate a fairly broad range of precipitation.
基金This study is supported by National Natural Science Foundati on of China(32060286,31660160)Youth Talent Program of Northwestern Normal University(2019YJ-1,NWNU-LKQN2019-10)Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province(2019-ZJ-910).
文摘Aims Human activities and global changes have led to alterations in global and regional precipitation regimes.Despite extensive studies on the effects of changes in precipitation regimes on plant community composition across different types of grassland worldwide,few studies have specifically focused on the effects of precipitation changes on high-altitude alpine steppe at community and plant species levels in the Tibetan Plateau.Methods We investigated the effects of growing-season precipitation changes(reduced precipitation by 50%,ambient precipitation,enhanced precipitation by 50%)for 6 years on plant community composition in an alpine steppe of the Tibetan Plateau by linking above-to belowground traits of dominant species.Important Findings We found that reduced precipitation shifted community composition from dominance by bunchgrass(primarily Stipa purpurea)to dominance by rhizomatous grass(primarily Leymus secalinus).Roots and leaf traits of L.secalinus and S.purpurea differed in their responses to reduced precipitation.Reduced precipitation enhanced root vertical length and carbon(C)allocation to deep soil layers,and decreased the leaf width in L.secalinus,but it did not change the traits in S.purpurea.Moreover,reduced precipitation significantly enhanced rhizome biomass,length,diameter and adventitious root at the rhizome nodes in L.secalinus.These changes in traits may render rhizomatous grass greater competitive during drought stress.Therefore,our findings highlight important roles of above-and belowground traits of dominant species in plant community composition of alpine steppe under precipitation change.
基金funded by Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2023NSFSC0195).
文摘Background Changes in precipitation alter soil moisture,thereby afecting the aboveground and belowground ecological processes.However,it remains unclear whether plant root systems alter these efects through rhizospheric processes.In this study,a precipitation control experiment was conducted in the alpine grassland of northern Xizang to simulate precipitation changes with a 50%decrease and 50%increase in precipitation.Nutrient and microbial biomass,root traits,and survival strategies in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of the dominant plant,Stipa purpurea,were analyzed for alterations under precipitation changes.Results Increased precipitation(IP)signifcantly decreased the rhizosphere soil total phosphorus and bulk soil ammonium nitrogen and increased the rhizosphere soil total potassium.Decreasing precipitation(DP)signifcantly increased the rhizosphere soil total potassium and decreased the bulk soil total potassium.DP signifcantly reduced microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in rhizosphere soil,while IP signifcantly increased the bulk soil MBC:MBP,soil C:P imbalance,and soil N:P imbalance.Along the PC1 axis,where the contribution of the traits was relatively large,it was possible to defne the root economic spectrum.The root system of Stipa purpurea from the DP treatment was distributed on the conservative side of the economic spectrum,whereas that from the control and IP treatments were clustered on the acquisition side.Conclusions Increasing and decreasing precipitation mainly afected the contents of total phosphorus and total potassium in rhizosphere soil and the contents of ammonium nitrogen and total potassium in bulk soil of Stipa purpurea.The microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus were mainly afected by a decrease in precipitation.Decreasing precipitation signifcantly reduced microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus,but the rhizosphere MBC:MBN,MBC:MBP and MBN:MBP remained stable under the change of precipitation.Increasing precipitation exacerbated the C:P imbalance and N:P imbalance in bulk soil,and increased the demand for phosphorus by bulk microorganisms.Increased precipitation promoted root access to resources.The root system of Stipa purpurea in the context of precipitation changes was driven by rhizosphere nutrients and bulk microorganisms.This study is important for revealing plant–microbe–soil interactions in terrestrial ecosystems.
