In this report, we describe morphological characteristics of a dicephalic Steppes Ratsnake （Elaphe dione） collected from the wild in 2011 in South Korea. The specimen has two heads and two long necks. Unlike normal ...In this report, we describe morphological characteristics of a dicephalic Steppes Ratsnake （Elaphe dione） collected from the wild in 2011 in South Korea. The specimen has two heads and two long necks. Unlike normal individuals, the dicephalic snake has divided ventral scales under the necks of the bifurcated columns. The snout- vent length （SVL） and overall total length of the individual are shorter than those of normal snakes of the same age. Nevertheless, the counts of nine different scale types that are often used for classification are all within the ranges of normal individuals. As far as we know, this is the first detailed morphological description of a dicephalic E. dione in the scientific literature.展开更多
Predictive assessments of the geomorphological systems’ behavior under climate warming in southern Siberia have been performed based on time-series data, using theoretical and empirical models of processes. High sens...Predictive assessments of the geomorphological systems’ behavior under climate warming in southern Siberia have been performed based on time-series data, using theoretical and empirical models of processes. High sensitivity and fast response of erosional, aeolian, and cryogenic processes to current climatic changes are presented. The current trends under changing functioning conditions of geomorphological systems while maintaining climatic trends have been determined. Areas with different targeting of morpholithogenesis are identified.展开更多
Soil respiration is a key component of the global terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle. The static opaque chamber method was used to measure the CO2 effiuxes from soil of a semiarid Aneurolepidium chinense steppe and a ...Soil respiration is a key component of the global terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle. The static opaque chamber method was used to measure the CO2 effiuxes from soil of a semiarid Aneurolepidium chinense steppe and a Stipa krylovii steppe in the Xilin River Basin of Inner Mongolia, China from March 2002 to December 2004. The results indicated that the soil respiration rates of the semiarid Aneurolepidium chinense steppe and the Stipa krylovii steppe were both relatively high from mid-May to mid-September of each year and remained low during the rest of the year. The minimum value of soil respiration occurred in December or January and negative effiuxes of CO2 appeared for several days during the non-growing season of individual years at the two sampling sites. A high annual variation was found in the two steppes with the coefficients of variance （CV） being over 94%, even high to 131%. The annual sums of soil CO2 effiux of the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe varied between 356.4 gC m^-2 yr^-1 and 408.8 gC m^-2 yr^-1, while those of the Stipa krylovii steppe in the three years were in the range of 110.6 gC m^-2 yr^-1 to 148.6 g Cm^-2 yr^-1. The mean respiration rates of the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe were significantly higher than those of the Stipa krylovii steppe in different statistical periods with the exception of the non-growing season. About 59.9% and 80.6% of the soil respiration variations in both steppes for the whole sampling period were caused by the changes of temperature and soil water content. In the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe, the soil respiration rate has significant or extremely significant positive correlation （r = 0.58 - 0.85, p 〈 0.05 or p 〈 0.01） with air temperature and ground temperature of the topsoil except in 2002; the unique contributions of temperature change to the soil respiration variation of the three years were 53.3%, 81.0% and 58.6%, respectively. But, for the Stipa krylovii steppe in the same time interval, the soil water content （especially that of the 10-20 cm layer） has a greater effect on the change of soil respiration, and the unique contributions of the change of the 10-20 cm soil water content to the variations of soil respiration in 2002 and 2003 were 60.0% and 54.3%, respectively. In 2004, in spite of the higher contribution of temperature than soil water content, the contribution of ground temperature at a depth of 10 cm was only 46.2%, much weaker than that of any single year in the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe.展开更多
Using the NDVI ratio method, the authors extracted phenological parameters from NOAA-AVHRR NDVI time-series data （1982-2008）. The start of the growing season （SOS） and the date of maximum NDVI （Peak-t） correlate...Using the NDVI ratio method, the authors extracted phenological parameters from NOAA-AVHRR NDVI time-series data （1982-2008）. The start of the growing season （SOS） and the date of maximum NDVI （Peak-t） correlated significantly with the mean annual precipitation along regional gradients of the steppes. Along the south transect （located at a lower latitude with a higher annual mean temperature） there was a positive correlation between the end of the growing season （EOS） and the mean annual precipitation along precipitation gradients （R2 = 0.709, p 〈 0.0001）. However, along the north transect （located at higher latitude with lower annual mean temperature）, the EOS was slightly negatively related with the mean annual precipitation （R2 = 0.179, p 〈 0.1）. There was positive correlation between the length of the growing season and the annual precipitation along two transects （R2 = 0.876, p 〈 0.0001 for the south transect; R2 = 0.290, p 〈 0.01 for the north transect）. Thus, for the Inner Mongolian steppe, it is precipitation rather than temperature that determines the date of the SOS.展开更多
In order to study the diurnal variation of soil CO2 effiux from temperate meadow steppes in Northeast China, and determine the best time for observation, a field experiment was conducted with a LI-6400 soil CO2 flux s...In order to study the diurnal variation of soil CO2 effiux from temperate meadow steppes in Northeast China, and determine the best time for observation, a field experiment was conducted with a LI-6400 soil CO2 flux system under five typical plant communi- ties （Suaeda glauca （Sg）, Chloris virgata （Cv）, Puecinellia distans （Pd）, Leymus chinensis （Lc） and Phragmites australis （Pa）） and an alkali-spot land （As） at the meadow steppe of western Songnen Plain. The results showed that the diurnal variation of soil CO2 effiux exhibited a single peak curve in the growing season. Diurnal maximum soil respiration （Rs） often appeared between 1 1：00 and 13：00, while the minimum occurred at 21：00-23：00 or before dawn. Air temperature near the soil surface （Ta） and soil temperature at 10 cm depth （Tlo） exerted dominant control on the diurnal variations of soil respiration. The time-windows 7：00-9：00 could be used as the optimal measuring time to represent the daily mean soil CO2 effiux at the Cv, Pd, Lc and Pa sites. The daily mean soil CO2 effiux was close to the soil COz effiux from 15：00 to 17：00 and the mean of 2 individual soil CO2 effiux from 15：00 to 19：00 at the As and Sg sites, respectively. During nocturnal hours, negative soil CO2 fluxes （CO2 downwards into the soil） were frequently observed at the As and Sg sites, the magnitude of the negative CO2 fluxes were 0.10-1.55 gmol/（m2.s） and 0.10-0.69 gmol/（m2.s）at the two sites. The results im- plied that alkaline soils could absorb CO2 under natural condition, which might have significant implications to the global carbon budget accounting.展开更多
To establish an assessment of floristic and edaphic characteristics of steppe formations we conducted a phytoecological study on a local scale by comparing the current plant diversity and soil in three (3) stations re...To establish an assessment of floristic and edaphic characteristics of steppe formations we conducted a phytoecological study on a local scale by comparing the current plant diversity and soil in three (3) stations representative of the vegetation to alfa (Stipa tenacissima L.) located south of Saida (western Algeria). The relations between the station, the vegetation and the characteristics of soils in the steppe are very imperfectly known. This study intends to analyze the relationship between floristic composition and edaphic parameters of the steppe at alfa. Anthropogenic pressures on plant structure are different imbalance resulting in one ecological. The floristic and edaphic data have been the subject of a factorial correspondence analysis (A.F.C). The floristic inventory denotes a regressive dynamics of the formations at alfa passing from one site to another. Thus 39 plant species have been inventoried in the site in good condition, against 26 species for the moderately degraded site and 16 species only for the damaged site. The coupled results between species and edaphic parameters show the relations between the plant diversity and the physico-chemical characteristics of the soils. The statistical analyses do appear a strong correlation between floristic composition, the state of vegetation and the edaphic parameters.展开更多
This work is an evaluation of the plant diversity of the white Wormwood formations (Artemisia herba-alba Asso.) in the steppes rangelands of the south-eastern zone of Sa?da (municipality of Maamora, Western Algeria). ...This work is an evaluation of the plant diversity of the white Wormwood formations (Artemisia herba-alba Asso.) in the steppes rangelands of the south-eastern zone of Sa?da (municipality of Maamora, Western Algeria). For this purpose, twenty-one phytoecological statements are carried out on three sample stations: an exclosure station where the white Wormwood is well developed and two other stations not protected where in one, the white Wormwood is moderately degraded and in the other one, it is strongly degraded. The factorial correspondences analysis (FCA) and the ascending hierarchical clustering (AHC) carried out on the floristic and edaphic parameters measured on these stations led to a hierarchy of the ecological factors determining the diversity of the studied plant formations with white Wormwood. The vegetation studied is marked by the dominance of the therophytes, particularly in the third station (very degraded station), while the exclosure station is essentially characterized by a high recovery rate and an important phytomass.展开更多
Grassland is the largest terrestrial ecosystem in China. It is of great significance to measure accurately the soil respiration of different grassland types for the contribution evaluation of the Chinese terrestrial e...Grassland is the largest terrestrial ecosystem in China. It is of great significance to measure accurately the soil respiration of different grassland types for the contribution evaluation of the Chinese terrestrial ecosystem’s carbon emission to the atmospheric CO2 concentration. A three-year (2005-2007) field experiment was carried out on three steppes of Stipa L. in the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China, using a static opaque chamber technique. The seasonal and interannual variations of soil respiration rates were analyzed, and the annual total soil respiration of the three steppes was estimated. The numerical models between soil respiration and water-heat factors were established respectively. Similar seasonal dynamic and high annual and interannual variations of soil respiration were found in all of the three steppes. In the growing season, the fluctuation of soil respiration was particularly evident. The coefficients of variation (CVs) for soil respiration in different growing seasons ranged from 54% to 93%, and the annual CVs were all above 115%. The interannual CV of soil respiration progressively decreased in the order of Stipa grandis (S. grandis) steppe 】 Stipa baicalensis (S. baicalensis) steppe 】 Stipa krylovii (S. krylovii) steppe. The annual total soil respiration for the S. baicalensis steppe was 223.62?299.24 gC m-2 a-1, 150.62-226.99 gC m-2 a-1 for the S. grandis steppe, and 111.31–131.55 gC m-2 a-1 for the S. krylovii steppe, which were consistent with the precipitation gradient. The variation in the best fitting temperature factor explained the 63.5%, 73.0%, and 73.2% change in soil respiration in the three steppes at an annual time scale, and the corresponding Q10 values were 2.16, 2.98, and 2.40, respectively. Moreover, the Q10 values that were calculated by soil temperature at different depths all expressed a 10 cm 】 5 cm 】 surface in the three sampling sites. In the growing season, the soil respiration rates were related mostly to the surface soil moisture, and the 95.2%, 97.4%, and 93.2% variations in soil respiration in the three steppes were explained by the change in soil moisture at a depth of 0-10 cm, respectively.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 Extreme climate events have become more severe and frequent with global change in recent years.The Chinese temperate steppes are an important component of the Eurasian steppes and highly sensitive and vulnerable ...Aims Extreme climate events have become more severe and frequent with global change in recent years.The Chinese temperate steppes are an important component of the Eurasian steppes and highly sensitive and vulnerable to climatic change.As a result,the occur-rence of extreme climate events must have strong impacts on the temperate steppes.Therefore,understanding the spatio-temporal trends in extreme climate is important for us to assess the sensitivity and vulnerability of Chinese temperate steppes to climatic changes.This research had two specific objects to(i)specify the temporal changes in extreme climate events across the whole steppe and(ii)compare the trend differences for extreme climate events in differ-ent types of steppes-meadow steppe,typical steppe and desert steppe.Methods To investigate extreme climate trends in the temperate steppes of China,82 meteorological stations with daily temperature and precipi-tation data(1961-2013)were used.Meanwhile,eight core extreme climate indices(extreme high-temperature threshold,extreme low-temperature threshold,frost days,heatwave duration,heavy rain-fall threshold,percentage of heavy rainfall,heavy rainfall days and consecutive dry days)from the Statistical and Regional Dynamical Downscaling of Extremes for European Regions(STARDEX)project were selected to analyse the trends in extreme climate across the whole temperate steppe and the three main types(meadow steppe,typical steppe and desert steppe)through time and space.Important Findings The results showed that(i)the changes in extreme climatic tem-perature events across the whole temperate steppe were obvi-ous during 1961-2013.The frost days(−3.40 days/10 year[yr])decreased significantly,while the extreme high-temperature thresh-old(0.24℃/10 yr),extreme low-temperature threshold(0.52℃/10 yr),and heatwave duration(0.58 days/10 yr)increased notably.The annual changes in extreme precipitation were small and not sig-nificant.(ii)Differences appeared in the extreme climatic trends in different types of steppes.The desert steppe showed strong climate extremes and underwent the most significant asymmetric warming compared with the meadow steppe and typical steppe.At the same time,the heatwave duration(0.62 days/10 yr)increased.In terms of the extreme precipitation,there was no significant trend among the three types of steppes.However,the fluctuations in extreme precipi-tation were the largest in the desert steppe compared to those in the typical steppe and meadow steppe.展开更多
Aims Soil CO_(2) emission from steppes is affected by soil properties and vegetation in different successional stages.Primary and secondary succession of plants frequently occurred at the meadow steppe in Songnen Plai...Aims Soil CO_(2) emission from steppes is affected by soil properties and vegetation in different successional stages.Primary and secondary succession of plants frequently occurred at the meadow steppe in Songnen Plain,Northeast China,which indicates the large uncer-tainty associated with CO_(2) emission in this environment.This study aims to investigate the temporal variations of soil respiration(Rs)and the effect of plant succession on cumulative soil CO_(2) emission during the growing season.Methods Using a LI-6400 soil CO_(2) flux system,Rs of five vegetation types which represented different stages of plant succession in meadow steppes of Songnen Plain,China,was investigated during the grow-ing seasons of 2011 and 2012.Important Findings Soil temperature(Ts)was the dominant controlling factor of Rs,which could explain~64%of the change in CO_(2) fluxes.The Q10 values of Rs were ranged from 2.0 to 6.7,showing a decreasing trend with the plant successional stages.The cumulative CO_(2) emis-sion increased with the degree of vegetation succession and it aver-aged to 316±6 g C m^(−2)(ranges:74.8±6.7 to 516.5±11.4 g C m^(−2))during the growing season.The magnitude of soil CO_(2) emission during the growing season was positively correlated with above-ground plant biomass,soil organic carbon content and mean soil water content,while negatively linked to mean Ts,pH,electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium percentages.The results implied that soil CO_(2) emission increased with the development of plant communities toward more advanced stages.Our findings pro-vided valuable information for understanding the variations of CO_(2) emission in the process of vegetation succession.展开更多
On the vast Hulun Buir steppe in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see.Known as one of the world’s four great grasslands and celebrated as the“kingdom of flora ...On the vast Hulun Buir steppe in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see.Known as one of the world’s four great grasslands and celebrated as the“kingdom of flora and fauna in north China,”the region has long been a cradle of traditional nomadic culture and a vital base for animal husbandry.展开更多
In mid-June,the vast,rolling meadow steppe grasslands of Bayanwenduer Sumu in Ar Horqin Banner,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,once again stretched into the horizon like green waves with herds of cattle and sheep sca...In mid-June,the vast,rolling meadow steppe grasslands of Bayanwenduer Sumu in Ar Horqin Banner,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,once again stretched into the horizon like green waves with herds of cattle and sheep scattered across them like pearls in a green ocean.This flock was driven by herders on horseback,motorcycles,and agricultural vehicles,leading the animals to summer pastures in one of the most important migrations of the year.展开更多
Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to bird communities, especially those in open and semi-open ecosystems such as steppes. This study investigates how steppe birds adapt to and utilize fragmented habitat...Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to bird communities, especially those in open and semi-open ecosystems such as steppes. This study investigates how steppe birds adapt to and utilize fragmented habitats by combining niche modeling with ecological trait analysis. We conducted standardized point surveys to examine the habitat preferences of 32 bird species in Inner Mongolia, China, and quantified their habitat niche parameters using the Outlying Mean Index (OMI). Our results reveal distinct habitat preferences among species, with some thriving in intact environments while others are better adapted to fragmented areas. Grassland species showed high specialization along the fragmentation gradient, while others exhibited adaptability to varying levels of fragmentation. Using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM), we identified three key traits influencing habitat occupancy: hand-wing index, body mass, and range size. Specifically, species with medium hand-wing indices, moderate body mass, and larger range sizes were more likely to occupy heavily fragmented habitats. These findings provide empirical evidence on how habitat fragmentation affects bird species in steppe ecosystems. The study highlights the importance of functional traits in understanding avian responses to habitat fragmentation and offers a foundation for developing effective conservation strategies to preserve biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.展开更多
Amid global precipitation changes,it remains unclear whether hydrological niche separation(HNS)mechanisms apply to herbaceous plant communities in desert steppes are severely affected by seasonal drought.How these pla...Amid global precipitation changes,it remains unclear whether hydrological niche separation(HNS)mechanisms apply to herbaceous plant communities in desert steppes are severely affected by seasonal drought.How these plants access limited water and tolerate drought to coexist also remains unverified.In this study,we employed stable isotope techniques to examine water acquisition and drought adaptation in coexisting species of the desert steppe in northern China under five precipitation treatments,i.e.,decreased 50%,decreased 30%,ambient,increased 30%,and increased 50%precipitation.The following results showed that:(1)water sources of coexisting species shifted with changes in precipitation amount and timing,i.e.,all coexisting plants exhibited preferential utilization of surface soil moisture.When surface soil moisture was scarce,they shifted to deeper water sources,and when deep water sources remained scarce,they were forced to compete more intensely for surface water sources;(2)community's HNS was affected by precipitation amount but not by timing,i.e.,with adequate soil moisture,plant water source ranges expanded,reducing overlap and enhancing HNS,whereas under extreme drought,the range contracted and increased the overlap,although HNS remained stable;and(3)water acquisition strategies of coexisting species differed along hydrological niche axis defined by water stress adaptability(i.e.,stable carbon isotope composition and proline content).Convolvulus ammannii Desr.had the strongest drought adaptation,although its strategy showed a weak correlation with water uptake.Stipa breviflora Griseb.,with moderate drought resistance,adopted a water-conserving strategy that was suitable for extreme drought.Leymus secalinus(Georgi)Tzvelev,Polygala tenuifolia Willd.,and Larix potaninii Batalin showed resource-dependent and flexible water strategies,thriving in wetter soils but struggling under extreme drought.Our findings indicated that herbaceous species in desert steppes adapted their water uptake and drought tolerance strategies according to changes in precipitation amount and timing.As a core regulatory mechanism,HNS(under increasing precipitation variability due to climate change)not only supports species coexistence by reducing interspecific competition,but also promotes efficient soil moisture use.This mechanism enhances community drought resistance and contributes to ecosystem stability.Overall,this study provides key ecological evidence for understanding plant community adaptation in arid and semi-arid areas facing the influence of global climate change.展开更多
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
Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure ...Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure of breeding steppe birds in Inner Mongolia, a biodiversity hotspot in Asia. We conducted standardized point-count surveys across a gradient from intact grasslands to urbanized areas, integrating species occurrence data, functional traits and the Human Footprint Index (HFI). Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), we assessed trait-environment interactions and shifts in species associations. Our results indicate that the HFI significantly affects bird communities. Habitat specialists, such as Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica), showed negative responses, whereas generalists like Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) thrived in disturbed areas. Trait-based analysis showed that species with larger body mass and specialized diets were negatively associated with HFI, whereas those linked to human-modified habitats exhibiting strong positive associations. In areas with high human footprint, co-occurrence networks grew more polarized: specialists faced intensified competition, while species with positive HFI responses formed stronger positive associations. CRF models indicated that human activities restructure species interactions, favoring generalists and simplifying community dynamics. These findings highlight the dual role of human impact in supporting some species while threatening specialists, potentially driving biotic homogenization. Our study emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that protect vulnerable species and manage those that thrive in human-altered environments. By linking traits and interactions to human impacts, this study provides a framework for identifying at-risk species and guiding conservation in the Anthropocene.展开更多
Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Rea...Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica in the Alxa steppe desert,Northwest China.Plant samples were collected during May-September 2019.Using excavation methods,in situ measurements,and root scanning techniques,we analyzed the root distribution,topology,and branching patterns of R.soongorica across an age sequence of 7-51 a.Additionally,we investigated the allometric relationships of root collar diameter with total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.The results showed that the roots of R.soongorica were predominantly concentrated in shallow soil layers(10-50 cm),with lateral root branching and biomass allocation increasing with shrub age.The root topology exhibited a herringbone-like structure,with average topological and modified topological indices of 0.89 and 0.96,respectively,both of which adjusted with shrub age.The root system displayed a self-similar branching pattern,maintaining a constant cross-sectional area ratio of 1.13 before and after branching,deviating from the area-preserving rule.These adaptive traits allow R.soongorica to efficiently expand its nutrient acquisition zone,minimize internal competition,and optimize resource uptake from the upper soil layers.Furthermore,significant linear relationships were observed between log10-transformed root collar diameter and log10-transformed total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.These findings advance non-destructive approaches for studying root characteristics and contribute to the development of root-related models.Besides,this study provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of R.soongorica under extreme drought conditions,offering valuable guidance for species selection and cultivation in desert restoration efforts.展开更多
Understanding plant community assembly is crucial for effective ecosystem conservation and restoration.The ecological filter framework describes community assembly as a process shaped by dispersal,environmental,and bi...Understanding plant community assembly is crucial for effective ecosystem conservation and restoration.The ecological filter framework describes community assembly as a process shaped by dispersal,environmental,and biotic filters.Additionally,functional traits and phylogenetic relationships are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing species coexistence and community structure.However,both the ecological filter framework and the roles of functional traits and phylogeny in community assembly remain underexplored in the Algerian steppes—particularly in the El Bayadh region,where ongoing vegetation degradation threatens ecosystem stability.This study applied Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities(HMSC)as an integrative approach to assess how ecological filters influence plant community assembly in the El Bayadh steppe and to evaluate the roles of functional traits and phylogenetic relationships in this process.Environmental data—including soil properties,topography,precipitation,and land use types(grazing and exclosure)—were collected across 50 plots in April and October,2023,along with functional traits from 24 species.These traits include root length,leaf area,specific leaf area,clonality,life history,and seed mass.HMSC results revealed that soil properties and precipitation were the primary drivers of community structure,while sand height and elevation had a moderate influence.In contrast,competition and grazing played relatively minor roles.Species responses to environmental covariates were heterogeneous:soil fertility and texture had mixed effects,benefiting some species while limiting others;sand encroachment and precipitation variability generally had negative impacts,whereas grazing exclusion favored many species.A weak phylogenetic signal was recorded,indicating that community assembly was driven more by environmental filtering than by shared evolutionary history.Functional trait responses to environmental variation reflected plant strategies that balanced resource acquisition and conservation.Specifically,seed mass,leaf area,and root length increased under higher soil moisture and nutrient availability but declined in response to salinity,precipitation variability,and sand height.Clonality and perennial life history traits enhanced the survival of plant species under harsh conditions.Overall,this study provides a holistic understanding of community assembly processes in the El Bayadh steppe and offers valuable insights for ecosystem management and restoration in arid and degraded ecosystem environments.展开更多
基金supported by 2013 Research Grant(C100983401-01) from Kangwon National University
文摘In this report, we describe morphological characteristics of a dicephalic Steppes Ratsnake （Elaphe dione） collected from the wild in 2011 in South Korea. The specimen has two heads and two long necks. Unlike normal individuals, the dicephalic snake has divided ventral scales under the necks of the bifurcated columns. The snout- vent length （SVL） and overall total length of the individual are shorter than those of normal snakes of the same age. Nevertheless, the counts of nine different scale types that are often used for classification are all within the ranges of normal individuals. As far as we know, this is the first detailed morphological description of a dicephalic E. dione in the scientific literature.
文摘Predictive assessments of the geomorphological systems’ behavior under climate warming in southern Siberia have been performed based on time-series data, using theoretical and empirical models of processes. High sensitivity and fast response of erosional, aeolian, and cryogenic processes to current climatic changes are presented. The current trends under changing functioning conditions of geomorphological systems while maintaining climatic trends have been determined. Areas with different targeting of morpholithogenesis are identified.
基金This work was jointly supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences （Grant No. KZCX1-SW-01-04） the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 40501072） the project on the Carbon Cycle and Driving Mechanisms in the Chinese Terrestrial Ecosystem （Grant No. 2002CB412503）.
文摘Soil respiration is a key component of the global terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle. The static opaque chamber method was used to measure the CO2 effiuxes from soil of a semiarid Aneurolepidium chinense steppe and a Stipa krylovii steppe in the Xilin River Basin of Inner Mongolia, China from March 2002 to December 2004. The results indicated that the soil respiration rates of the semiarid Aneurolepidium chinense steppe and the Stipa krylovii steppe were both relatively high from mid-May to mid-September of each year and remained low during the rest of the year. The minimum value of soil respiration occurred in December or January and negative effiuxes of CO2 appeared for several days during the non-growing season of individual years at the two sampling sites. A high annual variation was found in the two steppes with the coefficients of variance （CV） being over 94%, even high to 131%. The annual sums of soil CO2 effiux of the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe varied between 356.4 gC m^-2 yr^-1 and 408.8 gC m^-2 yr^-1, while those of the Stipa krylovii steppe in the three years were in the range of 110.6 gC m^-2 yr^-1 to 148.6 g Cm^-2 yr^-1. The mean respiration rates of the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe were significantly higher than those of the Stipa krylovii steppe in different statistical periods with the exception of the non-growing season. About 59.9% and 80.6% of the soil respiration variations in both steppes for the whole sampling period were caused by the changes of temperature and soil water content. In the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe, the soil respiration rate has significant or extremely significant positive correlation （r = 0.58 - 0.85, p 〈 0.05 or p 〈 0.01） with air temperature and ground temperature of the topsoil except in 2002; the unique contributions of temperature change to the soil respiration variation of the three years were 53.3%, 81.0% and 58.6%, respectively. But, for the Stipa krylovii steppe in the same time interval, the soil water content （especially that of the 10-20 cm layer） has a greater effect on the change of soil respiration, and the unique contributions of the change of the 10-20 cm soil water content to the variations of soil respiration in 2002 and 2003 were 60.0% and 54.3%, respectively. In 2004, in spite of the higher contribution of temperature than soil water content, the contribution of ground temperature at a depth of 10 cm was only 46.2%, much weaker than that of any single year in the Aneurolepidium chinense steppe.
基金jointly supported by the National Basic Research Program of China[973 Program,2012CB956202]the Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on Tibetan Characteristic Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Resources
文摘Using the NDVI ratio method, the authors extracted phenological parameters from NOAA-AVHRR NDVI time-series data （1982-2008）. The start of the growing season （SOS） and the date of maximum NDVI （Peak-t） correlated significantly with the mean annual precipitation along regional gradients of the steppes. Along the south transect （located at a lower latitude with a higher annual mean temperature） there was a positive correlation between the end of the growing season （EOS） and the mean annual precipitation along precipitation gradients （R2 = 0.709, p 〈 0.0001）. However, along the north transect （located at higher latitude with lower annual mean temperature）, the EOS was slightly negatively related with the mean annual precipitation （R2 = 0.179, p 〈 0.1）. There was positive correlation between the length of the growing season and the annual precipitation along two transects （R2 = 0.876, p 〈 0.0001 for the south transect; R2 = 0.290, p 〈 0.01 for the north transect）. Thus, for the Inner Mongolian steppe, it is precipitation rather than temperature that determines the date of the SOS.
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41501090,41501105)Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities(No.2412015KJ023)
文摘In order to study the diurnal variation of soil CO2 effiux from temperate meadow steppes in Northeast China, and determine the best time for observation, a field experiment was conducted with a LI-6400 soil CO2 flux system under five typical plant communi- ties （Suaeda glauca （Sg）, Chloris virgata （Cv）, Puecinellia distans （Pd）, Leymus chinensis （Lc） and Phragmites australis （Pa）） and an alkali-spot land （As） at the meadow steppe of western Songnen Plain. The results showed that the diurnal variation of soil CO2 effiux exhibited a single peak curve in the growing season. Diurnal maximum soil respiration （Rs） often appeared between 1 1：00 and 13：00, while the minimum occurred at 21：00-23：00 or before dawn. Air temperature near the soil surface （Ta） and soil temperature at 10 cm depth （Tlo） exerted dominant control on the diurnal variations of soil respiration. The time-windows 7：00-9：00 could be used as the optimal measuring time to represent the daily mean soil CO2 effiux at the Cv, Pd, Lc and Pa sites. The daily mean soil CO2 effiux was close to the soil COz effiux from 15：00 to 17：00 and the mean of 2 individual soil CO2 effiux from 15：00 to 19：00 at the As and Sg sites, respectively. During nocturnal hours, negative soil CO2 fluxes （CO2 downwards into the soil） were frequently observed at the As and Sg sites, the magnitude of the negative CO2 fluxes were 0.10-1.55 gmol/（m2.s） and 0.10-0.69 gmol/（m2.s）at the two sites. The results im- plied that alkaline soils could absorb CO2 under natural condition, which might have significant implications to the global carbon budget accounting.
文摘To establish an assessment of floristic and edaphic characteristics of steppe formations we conducted a phytoecological study on a local scale by comparing the current plant diversity and soil in three (3) stations representative of the vegetation to alfa (Stipa tenacissima L.) located south of Saida (western Algeria). The relations between the station, the vegetation and the characteristics of soils in the steppe are very imperfectly known. This study intends to analyze the relationship between floristic composition and edaphic parameters of the steppe at alfa. Anthropogenic pressures on plant structure are different imbalance resulting in one ecological. The floristic and edaphic data have been the subject of a factorial correspondence analysis (A.F.C). The floristic inventory denotes a regressive dynamics of the formations at alfa passing from one site to another. Thus 39 plant species have been inventoried in the site in good condition, against 26 species for the moderately degraded site and 16 species only for the damaged site. The coupled results between species and edaphic parameters show the relations between the plant diversity and the physico-chemical characteristics of the soils. The statistical analyses do appear a strong correlation between floristic composition, the state of vegetation and the edaphic parameters.
文摘This work is an evaluation of the plant diversity of the white Wormwood formations (Artemisia herba-alba Asso.) in the steppes rangelands of the south-eastern zone of Sa?da (municipality of Maamora, Western Algeria). For this purpose, twenty-one phytoecological statements are carried out on three sample stations: an exclosure station where the white Wormwood is well developed and two other stations not protected where in one, the white Wormwood is moderately degraded and in the other one, it is strongly degraded. The factorial correspondences analysis (FCA) and the ascending hierarchical clustering (AHC) carried out on the floristic and edaphic parameters measured on these stations led to a hierarchy of the ecological factors determining the diversity of the studied plant formations with white Wormwood. The vegetation studied is marked by the dominance of the therophytes, particularly in the third station (very degraded station), while the exclosure station is essentially characterized by a high recovery rate and an important phytomass.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40730105, 40673067, and 40973057)National Key Technology Research and Development Program (Grant No. 2007BAC03A11)
文摘Grassland is the largest terrestrial ecosystem in China. It is of great significance to measure accurately the soil respiration of different grassland types for the contribution evaluation of the Chinese terrestrial ecosystem’s carbon emission to the atmospheric CO2 concentration. A three-year (2005-2007) field experiment was carried out on three steppes of Stipa L. in the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China, using a static opaque chamber technique. The seasonal and interannual variations of soil respiration rates were analyzed, and the annual total soil respiration of the three steppes was estimated. The numerical models between soil respiration and water-heat factors were established respectively. Similar seasonal dynamic and high annual and interannual variations of soil respiration were found in all of the three steppes. In the growing season, the fluctuation of soil respiration was particularly evident. The coefficients of variation (CVs) for soil respiration in different growing seasons ranged from 54% to 93%, and the annual CVs were all above 115%. The interannual CV of soil respiration progressively decreased in the order of Stipa grandis (S. grandis) steppe 】 Stipa baicalensis (S. baicalensis) steppe 】 Stipa krylovii (S. krylovii) steppe. The annual total soil respiration for the S. baicalensis steppe was 223.62?299.24 gC m-2 a-1, 150.62-226.99 gC m-2 a-1 for the S. grandis steppe, and 111.31–131.55 gC m-2 a-1 for the S. krylovii steppe, which were consistent with the precipitation gradient. The variation in the best fitting temperature factor explained the 63.5%, 73.0%, and 73.2% change in soil respiration in the three steppes at an annual time scale, and the corresponding Q10 values were 2.16, 2.98, and 2.40, respectively. Moreover, the Q10 values that were calculated by soil temperature at different depths all expressed a 10 cm 】 5 cm 】 surface in the three sampling sites. In the growing season, the soil respiration rates were related mostly to the surface soil moisture, and the 95.2%, 97.4%, and 93.2% variations in soil respiration in the three steppes were explained by the change in soil moisture at a depth of 0-10 cm, respectively.
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National Natural Science Foundation of China(41775108)Agriculture to Climate Change(132020010406)Industry of National Public Welfare(Meteorological)Scientific Research(GYHY201406034).Conflict of interest.None declared.
文摘Aims Extreme climate events have become more severe and frequent with global change in recent years.The Chinese temperate steppes are an important component of the Eurasian steppes and highly sensitive and vulnerable to climatic change.As a result,the occur-rence of extreme climate events must have strong impacts on the temperate steppes.Therefore,understanding the spatio-temporal trends in extreme climate is important for us to assess the sensitivity and vulnerability of Chinese temperate steppes to climatic changes.This research had two specific objects to(i)specify the temporal changes in extreme climate events across the whole steppe and(ii)compare the trend differences for extreme climate events in differ-ent types of steppes-meadow steppe,typical steppe and desert steppe.Methods To investigate extreme climate trends in the temperate steppes of China,82 meteorological stations with daily temperature and precipi-tation data(1961-2013)were used.Meanwhile,eight core extreme climate indices(extreme high-temperature threshold,extreme low-temperature threshold,frost days,heatwave duration,heavy rain-fall threshold,percentage of heavy rainfall,heavy rainfall days and consecutive dry days)from the Statistical and Regional Dynamical Downscaling of Extremes for European Regions(STARDEX)project were selected to analyse the trends in extreme climate across the whole temperate steppe and the three main types(meadow steppe,typical steppe and desert steppe)through time and space.Important Findings The results showed that(i)the changes in extreme climatic tem-perature events across the whole temperate steppe were obvi-ous during 1961-2013.The frost days(−3.40 days/10 year[yr])decreased significantly,while the extreme high-temperature thresh-old(0.24℃/10 yr),extreme low-temperature threshold(0.52℃/10 yr),and heatwave duration(0.58 days/10 yr)increased notably.The annual changes in extreme precipitation were small and not sig-nificant.(ii)Differences appeared in the extreme climatic trends in different types of steppes.The desert steppe showed strong climate extremes and underwent the most significant asymmetric warming compared with the meadow steppe and typical steppe.At the same time,the heatwave duration(0.62 days/10 yr)increased.In terms of the extreme precipitation,there was no significant trend among the three types of steppes.However,the fluctuations in extreme precipi-tation were the largest in the desert steppe compared to those in the typical steppe and meadow steppe.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31100403,41101207)Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest,China(201303095-8).
文摘Aims Soil CO_(2) emission from steppes is affected by soil properties and vegetation in different successional stages.Primary and secondary succession of plants frequently occurred at the meadow steppe in Songnen Plain,Northeast China,which indicates the large uncer-tainty associated with CO_(2) emission in this environment.This study aims to investigate the temporal variations of soil respiration(Rs)and the effect of plant succession on cumulative soil CO_(2) emission during the growing season.Methods Using a LI-6400 soil CO_(2) flux system,Rs of five vegetation types which represented different stages of plant succession in meadow steppes of Songnen Plain,China,was investigated during the grow-ing seasons of 2011 and 2012.Important Findings Soil temperature(Ts)was the dominant controlling factor of Rs,which could explain~64%of the change in CO_(2) fluxes.The Q10 values of Rs were ranged from 2.0 to 6.7,showing a decreasing trend with the plant successional stages.The cumulative CO_(2) emis-sion increased with the degree of vegetation succession and it aver-aged to 316±6 g C m^(−2)(ranges:74.8±6.7 to 516.5±11.4 g C m^(−2))during the growing season.The magnitude of soil CO_(2) emission during the growing season was positively correlated with above-ground plant biomass,soil organic carbon content and mean soil water content,while negatively linked to mean Ts,pH,electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium percentages.The results implied that soil CO_(2) emission increased with the development of plant communities toward more advanced stages.Our findings pro-vided valuable information for understanding the variations of CO_(2) emission in the process of vegetation succession.
文摘On the vast Hulun Buir steppe in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see.Known as one of the world’s four great grasslands and celebrated as the“kingdom of flora and fauna in north China,”the region has long been a cradle of traditional nomadic culture and a vital base for animal husbandry.
文摘In mid-June,the vast,rolling meadow steppe grasslands of Bayanwenduer Sumu in Ar Horqin Banner,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,once again stretched into the horizon like green waves with herds of cattle and sheep scattered across them like pearls in a green ocean.This flock was driven by herders on horseback,motorcycles,and agricultural vehicles,leading the animals to summer pastures in one of the most important migrations of the year.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32201304)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2412022QD026).
文摘Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to bird communities, especially those in open and semi-open ecosystems such as steppes. This study investigates how steppe birds adapt to and utilize fragmented habitats by combining niche modeling with ecological trait analysis. We conducted standardized point surveys to examine the habitat preferences of 32 bird species in Inner Mongolia, China, and quantified their habitat niche parameters using the Outlying Mean Index (OMI). Our results reveal distinct habitat preferences among species, with some thriving in intact environments while others are better adapted to fragmented areas. Grassland species showed high specialization along the fragmentation gradient, while others exhibited adaptability to varying levels of fragmentation. Using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM), we identified three key traits influencing habitat occupancy: hand-wing index, body mass, and range size. Specifically, species with medium hand-wing indices, moderate body mass, and larger range sizes were more likely to occupy heavily fragmented habitats. These findings provide empirical evidence on how habitat fragmentation affects bird species in steppe ecosystems. The study highlights the importance of functional traits in understanding avian responses to habitat fragmentation and offers a foundation for developing effective conservation strategies to preserve biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32160406).
文摘Amid global precipitation changes,it remains unclear whether hydrological niche separation(HNS)mechanisms apply to herbaceous plant communities in desert steppes are severely affected by seasonal drought.How these plants access limited water and tolerate drought to coexist also remains unverified.In this study,we employed stable isotope techniques to examine water acquisition and drought adaptation in coexisting species of the desert steppe in northern China under five precipitation treatments,i.e.,decreased 50%,decreased 30%,ambient,increased 30%,and increased 50%precipitation.The following results showed that:(1)water sources of coexisting species shifted with changes in precipitation amount and timing,i.e.,all coexisting plants exhibited preferential utilization of surface soil moisture.When surface soil moisture was scarce,they shifted to deeper water sources,and when deep water sources remained scarce,they were forced to compete more intensely for surface water sources;(2)community's HNS was affected by precipitation amount but not by timing,i.e.,with adequate soil moisture,plant water source ranges expanded,reducing overlap and enhancing HNS,whereas under extreme drought,the range contracted and increased the overlap,although HNS remained stable;and(3)water acquisition strategies of coexisting species differed along hydrological niche axis defined by water stress adaptability(i.e.,stable carbon isotope composition and proline content).Convolvulus ammannii Desr.had the strongest drought adaptation,although its strategy showed a weak correlation with water uptake.Stipa breviflora Griseb.,with moderate drought resistance,adopted a water-conserving strategy that was suitable for extreme drought.Leymus secalinus(Georgi)Tzvelev,Polygala tenuifolia Willd.,and Larix potaninii Batalin showed resource-dependent and flexible water strategies,thriving in wetter soils but struggling under extreme drought.Our findings indicated that herbaceous species in desert steppes adapted their water uptake and drought tolerance strategies according to changes in precipitation amount and timing.As a core regulatory mechanism,HNS(under increasing precipitation variability due to climate change)not only supports species coexistence by reducing interspecific competition,but also promotes efficient soil moisture use.This mechanism enhances community drought resistance and contributes to ecosystem stability.Overall,this study provides key ecological evidence for understanding plant community adaptation in arid and semi-arid areas facing the influence of global climate change.
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funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2024M760408)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32201304)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2412024QD0212412022QD026).
文摘Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure of breeding steppe birds in Inner Mongolia, a biodiversity hotspot in Asia. We conducted standardized point-count surveys across a gradient from intact grasslands to urbanized areas, integrating species occurrence data, functional traits and the Human Footprint Index (HFI). Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), we assessed trait-environment interactions and shifts in species associations. Our results indicate that the HFI significantly affects bird communities. Habitat specialists, such as Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica), showed negative responses, whereas generalists like Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) thrived in disturbed areas. Trait-based analysis showed that species with larger body mass and specialized diets were negatively associated with HFI, whereas those linked to human-modified habitats exhibiting strong positive associations. In areas with high human footprint, co-occurrence networks grew more polarized: specialists faced intensified competition, while species with positive HFI responses formed stronger positive associations. CRF models indicated that human activities restructure species interactions, favoring generalists and simplifying community dynamics. These findings highlight the dual role of human impact in supporting some species while threatening specialists, potentially driving biotic homogenization. Our study emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that protect vulnerable species and manage those that thrive in human-altered environments. By linking traits and interactions to human impacts, this study provides a framework for identifying at-risk species and guiding conservation in the Anthropocene.
基金funded by the Guangxi Science and Technology Plan Project(Guike AD22080050)the Basic Research Ability Improvement Project of Young and Middle-aged Teachers of Universities in Guangxi(2022KY0386)+1 种基金the Opening Foundation of Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf,Ministry of Education,Nanning Normal University(NNNU-KLOP-K2202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42471055).
文摘Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica in the Alxa steppe desert,Northwest China.Plant samples were collected during May-September 2019.Using excavation methods,in situ measurements,and root scanning techniques,we analyzed the root distribution,topology,and branching patterns of R.soongorica across an age sequence of 7-51 a.Additionally,we investigated the allometric relationships of root collar diameter with total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.The results showed that the roots of R.soongorica were predominantly concentrated in shallow soil layers(10-50 cm),with lateral root branching and biomass allocation increasing with shrub age.The root topology exhibited a herringbone-like structure,with average topological and modified topological indices of 0.89 and 0.96,respectively,both of which adjusted with shrub age.The root system displayed a self-similar branching pattern,maintaining a constant cross-sectional area ratio of 1.13 before and after branching,deviating from the area-preserving rule.These adaptive traits allow R.soongorica to efficiently expand its nutrient acquisition zone,minimize internal competition,and optimize resource uptake from the upper soil layers.Furthermore,significant linear relationships were observed between log10-transformed root collar diameter and log10-transformed total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.These findings advance non-destructive approaches for studying root characteristics and contribute to the development of root-related models.Besides,this study provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of R.soongorica under extreme drought conditions,offering valuable guidance for species selection and cultivation in desert restoration efforts.
基金supported by the Foundation of the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue(FUQAT)Quebec Research Fund(FRQ)(2021-SE7-282961)。
文摘Understanding plant community assembly is crucial for effective ecosystem conservation and restoration.The ecological filter framework describes community assembly as a process shaped by dispersal,environmental,and biotic filters.Additionally,functional traits and phylogenetic relationships are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing species coexistence and community structure.However,both the ecological filter framework and the roles of functional traits and phylogeny in community assembly remain underexplored in the Algerian steppes—particularly in the El Bayadh region,where ongoing vegetation degradation threatens ecosystem stability.This study applied Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities(HMSC)as an integrative approach to assess how ecological filters influence plant community assembly in the El Bayadh steppe and to evaluate the roles of functional traits and phylogenetic relationships in this process.Environmental data—including soil properties,topography,precipitation,and land use types(grazing and exclosure)—were collected across 50 plots in April and October,2023,along with functional traits from 24 species.These traits include root length,leaf area,specific leaf area,clonality,life history,and seed mass.HMSC results revealed that soil properties and precipitation were the primary drivers of community structure,while sand height and elevation had a moderate influence.In contrast,competition and grazing played relatively minor roles.Species responses to environmental covariates were heterogeneous:soil fertility and texture had mixed effects,benefiting some species while limiting others;sand encroachment and precipitation variability generally had negative impacts,whereas grazing exclusion favored many species.A weak phylogenetic signal was recorded,indicating that community assembly was driven more by environmental filtering than by shared evolutionary history.Functional trait responses to environmental variation reflected plant strategies that balanced resource acquisition and conservation.Specifically,seed mass,leaf area,and root length increased under higher soil moisture and nutrient availability but declined in response to salinity,precipitation variability,and sand height.Clonality and perennial life history traits enhanced the survival of plant species under harsh conditions.Overall,this study provides a holistic understanding of community assembly processes in the El Bayadh steppe and offers valuable insights for ecosystem management and restoration in arid and degraded ecosystem environments.
