Effects of degradation and species composition on soil seed density in the alpine grasslands, China

IF 2.7 3区 环境科学与生态学 Q3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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Abstract

Grassland degradation can alter the structure and function of ecosystem and soil seed bank. Therefore, estimating the role of soil seed bank in vegetation regeneration of degraded grasslands is crucial. We selected grasslands with three levels of degradation, namely non-degraded (ND), mildly degraded (MD), and heavily degraded (HD) to analyze the effect of grassland degradation on soil seed bank, as well as the role of soil seed bank on vegetation regeneration of the alpine grasslands, China. Soil samples from each level were collected in May, before seedling emergence, in August, after completion of transient seed bank germination, and in December, after seed dispersal, to determine the seed density and species composition through germination experiment. Result showed that a total of 35 plant species was identified, including 15 species observed in both soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation. A total of 19, 15, and 14 species of soil seed bank were identified in December, May, and August, respectively. The most abundant species in soil seed bank were Compositae (5 species), followed by Poaceae (4 species), and Cyperaceae (3 species). Degradation level has no significant impact on species richness and Shannon-Wiener index of soil seed bank. In addition, sampling month and grassland degradation affected soil seed bank density, in which December>May>August, and ND>MD>HD, indicating that density of transient seed bank was greater than persistent seed bank. Soil seed bank density of surface layer (0–5 cm) accounting for 42%–72% of the total density, which was significantly higher than that of deep layer (5–10 cm). Similarity of species composition between vegetation and soil seed bank was low, and it increased with degradation level (ranged from 0.14 to 0.69). We concluded that grassland degradation affects soil seed bank density more than species diversity, and soil seed bank contributed slightly to vegetation regeneration of degraded alpine grassland. Therefore, it is unlikely that degraded alpine meadow can be restored solely through soil seed bank.

中国高寒草地退化和物种组成对土壤种子密度的影响
摘要 草原退化会改变生态系统和土壤种子库的结构和功能。因此,评估土壤种子库在退化草地植被再生中的作用至关重要。我们选择了三种退化程度的草地,即未退化草地(ND)、轻度退化草地(MD)和重度退化草地(HD),分析草地退化对土壤种子库的影响,以及土壤种子库对中国高寒草地植被再生的作用。分别于 5 月出苗前、8 月种子库萌发结束后和 12 月种子散播后采集各层土壤样品,通过发芽实验测定种子密度和物种组成。结果表明,共鉴定出 35 种植物,其中 15 种在土壤种子库和地面植被中均有观察到。在 12 月、5 月和 8 月,土壤种子库中分别发现了 19 种、15 种和 14 种植物。土壤种子库中最丰富的物种是锦葵科(5 种),其次是禾本科(4 种)和香蒲科(3 种)。退化程度对土壤种子库的物种丰富度和香农-维纳指数没有显著影响。此外,采样月份和草地退化程度对土壤种子库密度也有影响,其中 12 月>5 月>8 月和 ND>MD>HD 表明瞬时种子库密度大于持久种子库密度。表层(0-5 cm)土壤种子库密度占总密度的 42%-72% ,明显高于深层(5-10 cm)。植被与土壤种子库的物种组成相似度较低,且随退化程度的增加而增加(从 0.14 到 0.69)。我们的结论是,草地退化对土壤种子库密度的影响大于物种多样性,土壤种子库对退化高寒草地植被再生的贡献较小。因此,退化的高山草甸不太可能仅靠土壤种子库来恢复。
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来源期刊
Journal of Arid Land
Journal of Arid Land ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES-
CiteScore
4.70
自引率
6.70%
发文量
768
审稿时长
3.2 months
期刊介绍: The Journal of Arid Land is an international peer-reviewed journal co-sponsored by Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Science Press. It aims to meet the needs of researchers, students and practitioners in sustainable development and eco-environmental management, focusing on the arid and semi-arid lands in Central Asia and the world at large. The Journal covers such topics as the dynamics of natural resources (including water, soil and land, organism and climate), the security and sustainable development of natural resources, and the environment and the ecology in arid and semi-arid lands, especially in Central Asia. Coverage also includes interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere, and the relationship between these natural processes and human activities. Also discussed are patterns of geography, ecology and environment; ecological improvement and environmental protection; and regional responses and feedback mechanisms to global change. The Journal of Arid Land also presents reviews, brief communications, trends and book reviews of work on these topics.
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