In many arid ecosystems,vegetation frequently occurs in high-cover patches interspersed in a matrix of low plant cover.However,theoretical explanations for shrub patch pattern dynamics along climate gradients remain u...In many arid ecosystems,vegetation frequently occurs in high-cover patches interspersed in a matrix of low plant cover.However,theoretical explanations for shrub patch pattern dynamics along climate gradients remain unclear on a large scale.This context aimed to assess the variance of the Reaumuria soongorica patch structure along the precipitation gradient and the factors that affect patch structure formation in the middle and lower Heihe River Basin(HRB).Field investigations on vegetation patterns and heterogeneity in soil properties were conducted during 2014 and 2015.The results showed that patch height,size and plant-to-patch distance were smaller in high precipitation habitats than in low precipitation sites.Climate,soil and vegetation explained 82.5% of the variance in patch structure.Spatially,R.soongorica shifted from a clumped to a random pattern on the landscape towards the MAP gradient,and heterogeneity in the surface soil properties(the ratio of biological soil crust(BSC) to bare gravels(BG)) determined the R.soongorica population distribution pattern in the middle and lower HRB.A conceptual model,which integrated water availability and plant facilitation and competition effects,was revealed that R.soongorica changed from a flexible water use strategy in high precipitation regions to a consistent water use strategy in low precipitation areas.Our study provides a comprehensive quantification of the variance in shrub patch structure along a precipitation gradient and may improve our understanding of vegetation pattern dynamics in the Gobi Desert under future climate change.展开更多
Chinese tamarisk(saltcedar)is a deciduous shrub that occurs widely across the Yellow River Delta in China.The spatial structure of Chinese tamarisk is believed to have an influence on the landscape and habitats of rar...Chinese tamarisk(saltcedar)is a deciduous shrub that occurs widely across the Yellow River Delta in China.The spatial structure of Chinese tamarisk is believed to have an influence on the landscape and habitats of rare birds.In this study,first,Chinese tamarisk is detected using Canny edge detector and mathematical morphological operators based on SPOT 5 fusion-ready imagery.Then the numbers,areas,locations,and patch spacing of Chinese tamarisk patches are calculated.The experiments show that the detection accuracy of Chinese tamarisk patches is about 93.4%after the disconnection of connected patches.The distribution orientation of about 70%of the patches is approximately south-north.About 91%of the minimum distances among the patches are between 12.5 and 57.5 m.The rose graph indicates that the main azimuth between patches is north--northwest,and the second is northeast and southeast.The present study indicates that the integrating Canny edge detector with the algorithms for extracting circular and elliptical objects based on mathematical morphology is simple and effective for detecting Chinese tamarisk patches and is easy to identify the spatial structure of Chinese tamarisk patches,which reduces the time and labor for the visual interpretation of Chinese tamarisk patches.展开更多
Extremely hot environments can trigger serious health problems.To evaluate the effects of microclimate on thermal comfort,we proposed and validated a modified thermal humidity index(MTHI)that combined air temperature ...Extremely hot environments can trigger serious health problems.To evaluate the effects of microclimate on thermal comfort,we proposed and validated a modified thermal humidity index(MTHI)that combined air temperature and relative humidity with land surface temperature(LST).MTHI was more sensitive to microclimate changes than the general thermal humidity index that includes only T and RH,and thus the thermal comfort could be better indicated.In an urban riparian buffer study,we estimated the temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of MTHI values for 47 vegetation patches and explored how structural characteristics of patches affect the thermal comfort.The results showed that planting could significantly reduce LST and MTHI.Vegetation patches with complex vertical structures had considerably higher thermal comfort than those with simple structures.Decreasing nearest distance to river or increasing plant abundance could reduce the thermal discomfort.There were significant differences in the structure characteristics between the patches with MTHI<70 and those with MTHI>70,implying the critical thresholds of variations in thermal comfort with patch structure.Given that people always feel uncomfortable during the daytime in July,optimizing the patch structure is essential to improve the microclimate regulation services of an urban landscape.展开更多
The effect of dispersal on the permanence of population in a polluted patch is studied in this paper. The authors constructed a single-species dispersal model with stage-structure in two patches. The analysis focuses ...The effect of dispersal on the permanence of population in a polluted patch is studied in this paper. The authors constructed a single-species dispersal model with stage-structure in two patches. The analysis focuses on the case that the toxicant input in the polluted patch has a limit value. The authors derived the conditions under which the population will be either permanent, or extinct.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.91425301,No.41730854The PCSIRT,No.IRT-15R06Scientific Research Starting Foundation for Doctors in Hebei GEO University,No.BQ2017003
文摘In many arid ecosystems,vegetation frequently occurs in high-cover patches interspersed in a matrix of low plant cover.However,theoretical explanations for shrub patch pattern dynamics along climate gradients remain unclear on a large scale.This context aimed to assess the variance of the Reaumuria soongorica patch structure along the precipitation gradient and the factors that affect patch structure formation in the middle and lower Heihe River Basin(HRB).Field investigations on vegetation patterns and heterogeneity in soil properties were conducted during 2014 and 2015.The results showed that patch height,size and plant-to-patch distance were smaller in high precipitation habitats than in low precipitation sites.Climate,soil and vegetation explained 82.5% of the variance in patch structure.Spatially,R.soongorica shifted from a clumped to a random pattern on the landscape towards the MAP gradient,and heterogeneity in the surface soil properties(the ratio of biological soil crust(BSC) to bare gravels(BG)) determined the R.soongorica population distribution pattern in the middle and lower HRB.A conceptual model,which integrated water availability and plant facilitation and competition effects,was revealed that R.soongorica changed from a flexible water use strategy in high precipitation regions to a consistent water use strategy in low precipitation areas.Our study provides a comprehensive quantification of the variance in shrub patch structure along a precipitation gradient and may improve our understanding of vegetation pattern dynamics in the Gobi Desert under future climate change.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project No.41023010)a grant from the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Project No.XDA05050601).
文摘Chinese tamarisk(saltcedar)is a deciduous shrub that occurs widely across the Yellow River Delta in China.The spatial structure of Chinese tamarisk is believed to have an influence on the landscape and habitats of rare birds.In this study,first,Chinese tamarisk is detected using Canny edge detector and mathematical morphological operators based on SPOT 5 fusion-ready imagery.Then the numbers,areas,locations,and patch spacing of Chinese tamarisk patches are calculated.The experiments show that the detection accuracy of Chinese tamarisk patches is about 93.4%after the disconnection of connected patches.The distribution orientation of about 70%of the patches is approximately south-north.About 91%of the minimum distances among the patches are between 12.5 and 57.5 m.The rose graph indicates that the main azimuth between patches is north--northwest,and the second is northeast and southeast.The present study indicates that the integrating Canny edge detector with the algorithms for extracting circular and elliptical objects based on mathematical morphology is simple and effective for detecting Chinese tamarisk patches and is easy to identify the spatial structure of Chinese tamarisk patches,which reduces the time and labor for the visual interpretation of Chinese tamarisk patches.
基金This work was supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation[grant numbers 8181001 and 8132045]the Key Topics in Innovation Engineering of Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)[grant number Y225016EA2].
文摘Extremely hot environments can trigger serious health problems.To evaluate the effects of microclimate on thermal comfort,we proposed and validated a modified thermal humidity index(MTHI)that combined air temperature and relative humidity with land surface temperature(LST).MTHI was more sensitive to microclimate changes than the general thermal humidity index that includes only T and RH,and thus the thermal comfort could be better indicated.In an urban riparian buffer study,we estimated the temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of MTHI values for 47 vegetation patches and explored how structural characteristics of patches affect the thermal comfort.The results showed that planting could significantly reduce LST and MTHI.Vegetation patches with complex vertical structures had considerably higher thermal comfort than those with simple structures.Decreasing nearest distance to river or increasing plant abundance could reduce the thermal discomfort.There were significant differences in the structure characteristics between the patches with MTHI<70 and those with MTHI>70,implying the critical thresholds of variations in thermal comfort with patch structure.Given that people always feel uncomfortable during the daytime in July,optimizing the patch structure is essential to improve the microclimate regulation services of an urban landscape.
基金the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No.10171099).
文摘The effect of dispersal on the permanence of population in a polluted patch is studied in this paper. The authors constructed a single-species dispersal model with stage-structure in two patches. The analysis focuses on the case that the toxicant input in the polluted patch has a limit value. The authors derived the conditions under which the population will be either permanent, or extinct.
